Announcement
Clear Lake 49 – Pearland 37
It is always a very good sign if Justin Kurtz hits his first three point attempt or Kendrell Thompson makes a basket on his first shot or Jimmy Witten starts out with the first steal of the game. Tonight, in a must win contest in Clear Lake’s gym, all three of these happened and then some. The Falcons had prevailed over Pearland in first round action by a score of 62-51 in Pearland but the outcome of tonight’s game was not a lock for Lake. The two teams were tied for second place with 4-2 district records coming in to tonight’s game so a spot in the playoffs might be determined with this meeting. With the three top teams in the district advancing to the playoffs (which begin the third week in February), one thing is certain, a win would definitely improve the team’s chances of making it to the playoffs.
Because they understood what was at stake, both teams came ready to play. The game started on a positive note for Clear Lake when Kendrell hit a trey on his first shot after Jimmy Witten stole the ball. The Oilers answered with 5 points of their own to take the early lead but it would not last. A basket by RJ Turner tied it at 5 before Pearland scored at the 2:27 mark. With just over 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter Justin hit his first shot, a signature three pointer, to put Lake back in the lead 8-7. It went to 12-8 when Armie Lewis drove the baseline from the right side, went under the basket, and passed over to Fulton Brisco on the left wing. With 1:20 remaining Fulton hit a jumper from 14 feet. Throughout the game the Falcons played the best defense they have played since district played started and they protected the baseline better than they have all season. Ironic considering Pearland is consistently known as one of the best defensive teams around. Double teaming payed off when Lake was awarded the ball after a closely guarded five second call at mid-court on Pearland. Justin hit a jumper from the center before the quarter closed at 14-8. So far, so good.
In the second quarter back-to-back steals by Ross Maha and Andy Leveque helped the crowd breathe a little easier after Andy made a great spin move to score from the left side. 16-11, Lake up by 5. Pearland scored four unanswered points to narrow the gap to 16-15 before Kendrell shot the first Clear Lake free throw with 3:25 remaining in the half. With the foul count at 8 and 7, Kendrell hit the first of two charity tosses. Another steal and a pass to Kendrell led to a basket and a successful free throw to put Lake back up by 5, 20-15. Lake went to the dressing room at halftime with the score a close 23-19. No offensive rebounds but the Falcons shot 50% from the field during the first half and from the free throw line (9 of 18, 2 of 4 FT’s). Pearland got numerous offensive rebounds so the score was a real testament to Clear Lake’s defense. In the half the Oilers went 3 of 8 from the charity line which helped Lake’s cause.
In the third quarter the Falcons shot a dismal 3 of 11 from the field. With less than a minute gone in the quarter, RJ was relegated to the bench on his third called foul. Pearland scored 5 points before Justin hit a three pointer from the top of the arch to make it 26-21. Just before midway through the quarter Pearland got repeated offensive rebounds and attempts before Justin had enough and leaped up to take command of the ball (man, do we miss Jon Gilmer). After a basket by Armie Lewis off Justin’s rebound, with 2:40 remaining in the quarter and Pearland playing really good defense, Kurtz again displayed his quick leaping and strong release when he nailed another three pointer despite being closely guarded. When Justin is on, there are times when he appears unstoppable from outside. He can be closely guarded, with no apparent shot, and still leap up and sink a three pointer. With this shot, Kurtz again displayed that only Justin can stop Justin. 31-23, Lake up by 8. With 2:20 left in the third quarter Andy was fouled on a three point attempt. He hit two of three from the line to make the score 33-23. Some of the Lake crowd breathed a premature sigh of relief. With 1:34 remaining in the quarter, Andy left the game with an ankle injury and Pearland on their way to scoring 7 unanswered points. The quarter concluded with Lake barely ahead, 33-30.
Twenty six seconds into the final period Pearland sunk a three and tied the ball game for the third time. Another Oiler basket put them in the lead by 2. A good free throw by Kendrell and then one by Armie tied the game at 35. The second by Armie put Lake back up by 1. The Falcons played some hully gully ball in the fourth quarter which finally ended when Armie hurriedly brought the ball down and passed to RJ at the 3:05 remaining mark. RJ hit a jumper from the right side to make the score 40-35. This would be Lake’s only field goal of the quarter. With 1:49 remaining and desperation beginning to creep in, Pearland called time out with the score 40-35. Four consecutive free throws by Jimmy, three by RJ, and two by Armie increased the lead to 12 but the score does not indicate how close the game was until Pearland went into desperation mode and began fouling. The final score was 49-37. A good, close ball game and a very good win for the Falcons. In the final period Clear Lake went 1 of 11 from the field. 1 of 11 and they still won the ball game. Jimmy Witten played the best defensive game he has played all season and perhaps so did the team. In the fourth quarter the Falcons hit 14 of 16 free throws and held the Oilers to 7 points.
Jon Gilmer had knee surgery today and will not return this season. He is expected to be ready for football in August. The status of Andy Leveque is not yet known.
In other district games, Galveston Ball beat Clear Brook 58-48 and Alvin beat Brazoswood 69-55. In the region the Humble Wildcats upset the not-so-humble #2 Kingwood Mustangs 52-42.
Individual Scoring:
Justin Kurtz 13,
Kendrell Thompson 8 (5 rebounds), RJ Turner 7, Andy Leveque 6, Armie Lewis 6, Jimmy Witten 4 (5 rebounds), Christian Enriquez 3, Fulton Brisco 2
11 turnovers ( lowest all season)
It is always a very good sign if Justin Kurtz hits his first three point attempt or Kendrell Thompson makes a basket on his first shot or Jimmy Witten starts out with the first steal of the game. Tonight, in a must win contest in Clear Lake’s gym, all three of these happened and then some. The Falcons had prevailed over Pearland in first round action by a score of 62-51 in Pearland but the outcome of tonight’s game was not a lock for Lake. The two teams were tied for second place with 4-2 district records coming in to tonight’s game so a spot in the playoffs might be determined with this meeting. With the three top teams in the district advancing to the playoffs (which begin the third week in February), one thing is certain, a win would definitely improve the team’s chances of making it to the playoffs.
Because they understood what was at stake, both teams came ready to play. The game started on a positive note for Clear Lake when Kendrell hit a trey on his first shot after Jimmy Witten stole the ball. The Oilers answered with 5 points of their own to take the early lead but it would not last. A basket by RJ Turner tied it at 5 before Pearland scored at the 2:27 mark. With just over 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter Justin hit his first shot, a signature three pointer, to put Lake back in the lead 8-7. It went to 12-8 when Armie Lewis drove the baseline from the right side, went under the basket, and passed over to Fulton Brisco on the left wing. With 1:20 remaining Fulton hit a jumper from 14 feet. Throughout the game the Falcons played the best defense they have played since district played started and they protected the baseline better than they have all season. Ironic considering Pearland is consistently known as one of the best defensive teams around. Double teaming payed off when Lake was awarded the ball after a closely guarded five second call at mid-court on Pearland. Justin hit a jumper from the center before the quarter closed at 14-8. So far, so good.
In the second quarter back-to-back steals by Ross Maha and Andy Leveque helped the crowd breathe a little easier after Andy made a great spin move to score from the left side. 16-11, Lake up by 5. Pearland scored four unanswered points to narrow the gap to 16-15 before Kendrell shot the first Clear Lake free throw with 3:25 remaining in the half. With the foul count at 8 and 7, Kendrell hit the first of two charity tosses. Another steal and a pass to Kendrell led to a basket and a successful free throw to put Lake back up by 5, 20-15. Lake went to the dressing room at halftime with the score a close 23-19. No offensive rebounds but the Falcons shot 50% from the field during the first half and from the free throw line (9 of 18, 2 of 4 FT’s). Pearland got numerous offensive rebounds so the score was a real testament to Clear Lake’s defense. In the half the Oilers went 3 of 8 from the charity line which helped Lake’s cause.
In the third quarter the Falcons shot a dismal 3 of 11 from the field. With less than a minute gone in the quarter, RJ was relegated to the bench on his third called foul. Pearland scored 5 points before Justin hit a three pointer from the top of the arch to make it 26-21. Just before midway through the quarter Pearland got repeated offensive rebounds and attempts before Justin had enough and leaped up to take command of the ball (man, do we miss Jon Gilmer). After a basket by Armie Lewis off Justin’s rebound, with 2:40 remaining in the quarter and Pearland playing really good defense, Kurtz again displayed his quick leaping and strong release when he nailed another three pointer despite being closely guarded. When Justin is on, there are times when he appears unstoppable from outside. He can be closely guarded, with no apparent shot, and still leap up and sink a three pointer. With this shot, Kurtz again displayed that only Justin can stop Justin. 31-23, Lake up by 8. With 2:20 left in the third quarter Andy was fouled on a three point attempt. He hit two of three from the line to make the score 33-23. Some of the Lake crowd breathed a premature sigh of relief. With 1:34 remaining in the quarter, Andy left the game with an ankle injury and Pearland on their way to scoring 7 unanswered points. The quarter concluded with Lake barely ahead, 33-30.
Twenty six seconds into the final period Pearland sunk a three and tied the ball game for the third time. Another Oiler basket put them in the lead by 2. A good free throw by Kendrell and then one by Armie tied the game at 35. The second by Armie put Lake back up by 1. The Falcons played some hully gully ball in the fourth quarter which finally ended when Armie hurriedly brought the ball down and passed to RJ at the 3:05 remaining mark. RJ hit a jumper from the right side to make the score 40-35. This would be Lake’s only field goal of the quarter. With 1:49 remaining and desperation beginning to creep in, Pearland called time out with the score 40-35. Four consecutive free throws by Jimmy, three by RJ, and two by Armie increased the lead to 12 but the score does not indicate how close the game was until Pearland went into desperation mode and began fouling. The final score was 49-37. A good, close ball game and a very good win for the Falcons. In the final period Clear Lake went 1 of 11 from the field. 1 of 11 and they still won the ball game. Jimmy Witten played the best defensive game he has played all season and perhaps so did the team. In the fourth quarter the Falcons hit 14 of 16 free throws and held the Oilers to 7 points.
Jon Gilmer had knee surgery today and will not return this season. He is expected to be ready for football in August. The status of Andy Leveque is not yet known.
In other district games, Galveston Ball beat Clear Brook 58-48 and Alvin beat Brazoswood 69-55. In the region the Humble Wildcats upset the not-so-humble #2 Kingwood Mustangs 52-42.
Individual Scoring:
Justin Kurtz 13,
Kendrell Thompson 8 (5 rebounds), RJ Turner 7, Andy Leveque 6, Armie Lewis 6, Jimmy Witten 4 (5 rebounds), Christian Enriquez 3, Fulton Brisco 2
11 turnovers ( lowest all season)
|
FALCON STATS |
FG made |
FG attempts |
% |
|
2's |
8 |
26 |
30.7% |
|
3's |
5 |
14 |
35.7% |
|
free throws |
18 |
23 |
78.2% |
|
SCORE BY QUARTER |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
Clear Lake |
14 |
23 |
33 |
49 |
|
Pearland |
8 |
19 |
30 |
37 |
|
LINESCORE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
|
Clear Lake |
14 |
9 |
10 |
16 |
49 |
|
Pearland |
88 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
37 |
|
REBOUNDS |
LAKE |
THEM |
|
Offensive |
6 |
16 |
|
Defensive |
14 |
18 |
Comments
There are no comments for this announcement.
