Clear Lake Falconhoops

Pasadena Texas Invitational Tournament Day 3, Game 2 vs. Katy Taylor Mustangs If sheer numbers were any indication, Clear Lake would be outmanned against the Katy Taylor Mustangs in the Silver Division Championship game on Saturday night, November 20, at Dobie High School. The walking wounded Lake team entered the gym with eight players, They were missing two due to injuries, Jimmy Witten (6’4” soph.), and Justin Kurtz ( 6’4” Jr., out with a broken nose). They were also missing starting guard, Scott Oswald (quarterback of the football team which had just trounced Lamar in a second round playoff game at Rice Stadium). This was the first time in school history that the football team had won a second round game. Katy Taylor brought in 13 players to outman and outgun the Falcons. The Falcons brought talent, skill, heart and determination into the gym against a team which had won its first round game by 60 points and most of its games by 21 or more. The Falcons did not match up too well against the Mustangs in some positions and the depth proved to be the difference as the Taylor bunch wore down the Falcons. In a tournament where a team plays six games in three days, depth will usually be a major factor in the final game as fatigue comes more into play. The Katy team had effectively scouted the Falcons in the earlier Taft game and knew exactly what to expect. They were prepared and they were very well coached. Lake did not appear to have scouted the Mustangs. Lake had also not taken whatever energy pills the Taylor bunch must have taken because the Falcons, probably weary from some demanding games, got out-hustled throughout the game after the first quarter. A rematch with Lake’s full team would be a much better contest probably with a different outcome. Early in the first quarter Armie Lewis got steamrolled on the floor in a scuffle after a loose ball (no foul was called). Despite going 1 of 9 from two point range, the score was Taylor 14, Lake 13 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter the Falcons scored 6 points to be outpaced by 20 by Taylor. 34-19 at the half. After a brief rest at halftime, the Falcons battled back to outscore the Mustangs 17 to 10. Taylor 44, Lake 36 after three quarters. Still anybody’s game. Similar to the fourth quarter pattern of previous games, thirty seconds into the fourth quarter, just like the coach had called it, Kendrell Thompson hit a 3 to bring the score to 39-44. Then, at 6:08 remaining, Kendrell hit a layup to bring it to 42-46, the closest it would be for the remainder of the game. The Falcons did not score a field goal after this point. They would score only 3 more points in the contest. The Falcons had 21 turnovers and a plethora of missed shots with little rebounding (the Falcons were out-rebounded 31 to 12 for the game). They were slightly outmanned and outgunned. The final score was 56 to 45. The value of a game like this can often be overlooked due to the sting of defeat. This was a beneficial game for the Falcons. Their stamina and conditioning were tested and improved as a result. This team will learn from the mistakes they made. This team will improve because of this ball game. The Falcons can be proud they finished second in the Silver Division of this Tournament. Scoring for the Falcons: Kendrell 11, Mark 10, Gordon 10, Armie 7, Brandon 6, Jordan 1 2’s: 8 of 16 (50%) not good enough 3’s: 5 of 15 (33%) not good enough FT’s: 14 of 23 (61%) not nearly good enough