Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Lake 72 - Milby 62

The front page of Wednesday’s Houston Chronicle features an article about the Peregrine Falcon, Clear Lake’s mascot. It discusses how impressive the animal is as it swoops down attacking its prey with speed and accuracy. It almost seems like there should have been a footnote reference to the Clear Lake Falcons after watching the Falcons’ season opener against Milby High School last night in the Bill Krueger Field House.

Combining efficient teamwork with frequent well executed fundamental basketball is the trademark of a Clear Lake team. This team is no exception. But what is exceptional about this team is how interchangeable the parts of the machine are. At this early stage of the season the team appears to have all starters on any given night. Replacing one or more tired players at a critical juncture in a close game does not mean a reduction in talent on the floor to this team. It means an increase in energy and focused effort. This will be the key to many of the Falcons victories this season.  

Without an individual standout performer rising above all his teammates to carry the load, this noticeably deep team provided a preview of what their season will be like as they dismantled the Milby Buffalos. Lake held Milby to 2 points during the first quarter and only allowed 14 by halftime. Milby does not have the caliber of talent they have had many times in the past but they are a good team. Clear Lake outplayed Milby on both ends of the court. Abysmal Milby shooting in the first half was replaced with above average shooting in the second half as Milby repeatedly tried to claw their way back into the game. Ten of Lake’s players scored and Lake led by as much as twenty.  

This was a good opening game for the Falcons and it provided clear evidence of why they are going to be a lot of fun to watch this season. Despite Lake's holding a comfortable lead most of the game the final score of 72-62 does not indicate how close the game felt at times. 

Even though it was the opening game of what portends to be another exiting Falcon season, the Falcons looked better than many expected for the season opener. Sure there were mistakes and miscues, but on any given night each of the Lake players has the potential for a standout performance. Combine that with a depth off the bench never before seen on a Clear Lake team and the imagination soars. One has to wonder to what lofty heights these Falcons can soar.  

Individual Scoring:

Cody 15 (3 steals), Jay 10 (6 rebounds), Nick 10 (4 assists, 4 rebounds),

Andrew 9, Steven 9 (5 assists), Mark 7 (5 assists, 3 steals), Kyle 6, Brian 3, Jacob 2

Team stats: 11 steals, 20 assists, 10 turnovers, charges taken 2 , 17 fouls