Clear Lake Falconhoops

Bellaire 82 – Clear Lake 63
Area Playoff
February 24, 2006

Clear Lake came into the Pearland gymnasium as noticeable underdogs as they faced the highly ranked Bellaire Cardinals in the 2006 Area playoff game Friday night. The Bellaire bunch is ranked 5^th in the region and 10^th in the state and it was easy to see why. Led by their outstanding guard, junior Jai Lucas, the leading scorer in the region with a 22.2 points per game average, Bellaire touted a 26-5 record coming into the contest. But their renowned guard was just the tip of the iceberg. Backing up Lucas and sharpshooter guard Emmanuel Igbinosa (#32) were Bellaire’s two 6’9” post men, one 6’8” forward, two 6’7” forwards, one 6’6” forward and a 6’5” forward (statistically, it is impossible to have that much height on one team without recruiting your athletes). Surely the tallest lineup in the Houston area, one has to wonder when you see them play, why Bellaire is not ranked higher.

But someone forgot to tell the Clear Lake Falcons they were supposed to lose the game against the bunch of towering trees from Bellaire. To say that Clear Lake was prepared and mentally ready would be an understatement. Just as it had shone in the previous outing against Deer Park, the team’s preparedness was glaringly obvious. They were as ready as they could be.

After an impressive showing in their previous bittersweet victory over Deer Park, the skeptics were doubtful about Clear Lake putting good games back-to-back and some expected an embarrassing blowout when the Falcons faced the highly ranked Cardinals. With Lake’s big man 6’5” Jimmy Witten overshadowed by all that height and starting point guard Armie Lewis out with a broken toe, some expected it to be over early. All that doubt evaporated quickly when the Falcons came out and immediately showed Bellaire what Clear Lake basketball is all about.

First Half
With the Lake crowd outnumbering the Bellaire following almost four to one, Clear Lake’s side of the gym won the noise contest and boy did the team give them something to make noise about. The game was tied four times in the first quarter as the teams jockeyed for control. Because their outside shots were not falling, Bellaire started trying to capitalize on their inside game but Lake’s Jimmy Witten had something to say about that. Witten had six points in the first quarter and six defensive rebounds in the first half to help to partially diminish the dominance of Bellaire’s 6’9” post man, #50, junior Isaiah Rusher. Lake’s guard play during the first half was very smart at times but there were lapses. The Falcons’ determination and desire were evident and the difference in talent between the teams was barely evident as the Falcons played their hearts out. The score at the end of the first quarter was 15-12, Lake up by 3.

In the second quarter, Witten’s intensity continued while Justin Kurtz got on track and nailed three three’s and Kendrell Thompson found his range with 3 for 3 from the field as well. Even the team’s trainer, Jaime Marshall, was playing a superlative role. With 5:15 remaining in the second quarter, with blood on his left elbow, Jimmy was fouled on a defensive rebound after 1 and 1 went into effect but the referee stopped the game when he noticed the blood from a previously unnoticed scrape. With the ref about to call for a substitution after waiting a short time, Jaime bandaged the elbow amazingly fast, Witten went to the free throw line and sank both free throws to put Lake ahead 23-19. With just over 3:16 remaining in the quarter the score went to 31-22 when Justin nailed an impossible, off-balance, awkward three pointer that never should have gone in. Then a free throw by Jimmy put Lake up by 10. It was 35-22 when Justin hit a trey on an assist by RJ Turner. The Clear Lake crowd went from skeptical to surprised to encouraged to hopeful as their team got on track in the second quarter and dominated the quarter for 5½ minutes as they outshone the favored Bellaire bunch. Elation among the Clear Lake supporters was widespread at this point. Then Bellaire started to battle back with seven unanswered points. A free throw by sophomore Steven Hartman and four more points by Bellaire closed out the scoring for the half at 36-33, Lake up by 3. (In the first half Bellaire shot 17 free throws which resulted in 9 points; Lake garnered 6 of 12). Against the team ranked #10 in the state (out of over 320 teams), Clear Lake dominated the first 13 ½ minutes of the game with their superior play. It was great to watch!

Second Half
Things started out well when an assist from RJ allowed Kendrell to nail a trey to make it 39-33. Two layups by RJ and a clever one by Andy Leveque brought the score to 45-43 before the Cards tied it at 45 with 2:30 remaining in the quarter. From that point it was mostly all Bellaire. The height and talent advantage showed and Bellaire guard Jai Lucas was unstoppable. The Cards sank 11 unanswered points before the quarter closed at 45-56. Clear Lake was outscored 23 to 9 in the quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to Bellaire as they scored at will. Jimmy Witten fouled out with just under five minutes remaining in the final quarter on what looked to be a flakey, bad call by a very senior official. Not that it mattered but a previous call had assigned a foul to Jimmy instead of the offending Falcon player so Jimmy went from 3 to 5 fouls in a hurry it seemed. Final score was 63-82. Bellaire's Jai Lucas led all scorers with 24 and Emmanuel Igbinosa(#32) had 22. Bellaire advances to the regional quarterfinals to face Kingwood on Tuesday night.

Season Reflections
One of the more noticeable attributes of this very young Clear Lake squad has been their inconsistency. They have been among the most inconsistent teams Lake has had with key players often not able to put good games back to back. Not unusual for a young team. That’s one of the factors that make high school basketball what it is. With their balanced outside shooting, when they were on, Lake could beat all but the very upper echelon teams in the state. When they were off, they could lose at home to Alvin for the first time in the history of the school.

Without a 6’8” or taller big man on the squad for the first time in many years, Lake should probably have lost more games. They did not because of such factors as: 
          Justin Kurtz at 6’4” played like 6’7” or taller with reckless abandon; Justin sacrificed his body as much or more than any of his predecessors. With his strength and quickness he sometimes made outside shots that should never have gone in. 
          Savvy, frequently intelligent offensive ball by Jimmy Witten and Jon Gilmer whom the crowd expected to outdo their taller opponents because they often did; 
          The jumping ability of Kendrell Thompson, Armie Lewis, and RJ Turner (not to mention their ball handling skills); 
          Strength off the bench from players like Andy Leveque, Ross Maha.and Fulton Brisco. Ross made a difference almost every time he was in the ball game. He stood out with his work ethic, his determination, and his “you are not going to shove me out of the way” grit. It is doubtful that there has ever been a Falcon varsity player who has had more support and encouragement from his teammates (even if he does want to be an Aggie). Andy came in and surprised his opponents with his skills in every game. The intensity and determination in his face could be seen all over the gym from the first time he touched the ball. Fulton played such solid, error free basketball so many times you could almost feel the crowd relax when he had his hands on the ball. 
          And let’s not forget 6’4” Christian Enriquez who was there when he was needed. With Jimmy’s foul troubles and Jon’s injury, Christian bounced from the Varsity to the JV and back but he provided some very key rebounds. And do not forget about his almost uncanny ability to nail the three point shot from the wing. From the summer before his ninth grade year, Christian has worked so hard and improved his basketball skills immeasurably. One of the most improved players in recent memory. 

This was a very young team with only three seniors. With a 24-12 season record, six of Lake’s losses were to teams ranked among the top teams in the state. Two losses were to teams close to the cusp of being ranked (Milby, North Shore in quadruple overtime). One loss was to a highly ranked team in Kentucky. They may have seemed inconsistent but they sure made us proud. Not bad at all for a team that was not supposed to make the playoffs.

Individual Scoring:

Justin Kurtz 21
Kendrell Thompson 14, Jimmy Witten 12 (7 rebounds), RJ Turner 8 (8 assists), Andy Leveque 6, Fulton Brisco 1, Steven Hartman 1

Did not play: Jon Gilmer, Armie Lewis

Turnovers: 19

FALCON STATS	made	attempts	%
2's	14	31	45.1%
3's	6	21	28.6%
free throws	17	30	56.7%

(Bellaire was 17 of 31 from the free throw line)

SCORE BY QUARTER	1	2	3	4
Clear Lake	15	36	45	63
Bellaire	12	33	56	82

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	Final
Clear Lake	15	21	9	18	63
Bellaire	12	21	23	26	82

REBOUNDS	LAKE	BELLAIRE
Offensive	4	16
Defensive	19	20