Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Lake 68 - Dickinson 35  (Game # 32)

article by Brooks Kubena
Clear Lake seems to have gotten back on track after trouncing the Dickinson Gators 68-35 in the Falcons last home game of the season Friday night. Lake played like they had something to prove after their setback loss to Clear Brook in their previous game.

Although Dickinson took a 5-1 lead in the first couple of minutes of the ball game, Lake guards Alden Miles and Paris Clayton would knock down consecutive jumpers to make it 6-5 and give the Falcons the lead. Dickinson would not lead again. The Falcons would go on to win their twelfth district win of the season with Clayton leading the scoring with 20.

We’ve been playing well all season.” Lake Head Coach Tommy Penders said. “The only exception is the other night. We played our tails off against Brook, but we shot 16-56 and that was the difference in the game. When you’re struggling from the outside, you have to press, and when you press you’re going to get some turnovers but you’re going to give up a lot of easy lay ups. It’s just inevitable. So things didn’t go for us the other night. Tonight we bounced back well and we played the way we had been playing all year: smart and trying not to make plays that beat ourselves and staying within what we do well.”

The Falcons were much improved in their shot selection and accuracy tonight shooting 70% from the field. The offense wasn’t struggling as much and was running smoothly with few turnovers. The defense played well, out-rebounding the Gators 34-22 and blocking five shots and only allowing 35 points. It was just the kind of game they needed in order to shake off their only district loss.

The team will play their final regular season game against Clear Creek (5-7) next Tuesday night at Carlisle Field House at 7 PM. Although the playoffs are inevitable at this point, Lake won’t be pulling any punches. It’s 100% focus on Creek.” Penders said. “We are going to view it as a playoff game for us because if we win it puts us in a position to be District Champions, whether it’s co-champs or outright champs, that’s to be determined, but at least a win will put us in a position to be co-champs. They are very tough, very physical, and they play everybody tough. So we’re going to have to do a really good job of making things difficult for Deion Lewis. We don’t want to just allow him to go wherever he wants to go. If we can do that and defend Austin Smith on the outside, that will be good for us. But, you know, it’s Creek, and it’s a rival, and it’s going to be a good game. Creek is a good ball club. This happens to be a war zone of a district and they’re the odd man out right now so we’ll go in there expecting a war.”

Coming off a 47-40 loss to Clear Springs, Creek has lost any hope of reaching the post season. But there would be no consolation greater for them than to keep their long-time rival away from a district championship. Like Penders said, a war is to be expected. This isn’t a game to be taken lightly.

Individual scoring:

Nick Collins 2

Alden Miles 18

Rob Lewis 2

Paris Clayton 20

Will West 2

Jordan Davis 10

Colton Krenek 10

Matt Dancy 1

Mark Skol 2

To view game photos of this season's game as well as previous seasons, go to Photo Albums. Not all games will have photos submitted.