Clear Lake Falconhoops

Clear Lake 60 – Clear Brook 44

One of the most surprising games Clear Lake has played this season was the first round contest in the Clear Brook gym. After a stellar performance in the tournament in San Diego, Lake’s let-down display against Brook in the first game of the new year was anything but stellar during most of the game. Lake required an overtime period to defeat the Wolverines so the outcome of tonight’s game had to be questionable in some minds.

Now in the second round of District action, the Falcons set the record straight with a 60-44 victory to erase any doubt about which is the better team. But the outcome of the game was not at all one-sided in the first two quarters of the outing. Clear Brook played very well. Despite the cloud of an alleged holiday hazing incident by the Brook Varsity and the just-resolved exoneration of the Brook squad and head coach Jason Pillow, they were focused and relaxed as they out shot and out rebounded most of the shorter Lake squad to keep it close in the first half.

In the first quarter Jimmy “The Warrior” Witten started things off right by scoring the first two baskets of the evening. This would be a preview of another outstanding performance by Witten as he outsmarted his opponents on both ends of the court throughout most of the game. “The Warrior” had 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals which had to impress UT Dallas head coach Terry Butterfield here to witness Witten et al in action. Combine Witten’s efforts with another superb offensive display by “The Man” Kendrell Thompson, and Clear Brook never really had a chance unless they shot the lights out (which they started out like they would). The game was close throughout the first quarter with Lake holding a slight advantage until Brook grabbed the lead 13-14 with 1:03 remaining in the period.

Fifteen seconds into the second quarter a three and a free throw by Kendrell put Lake back in the lead 17-14. With 5:33 remaining in the quarter Armie Lewis found RJ Turner with an open pass on the right side of the hoop. RJ’s basket made it 19-14. Brook closed the gap and took the lead 20-21 on some free throws with 3:53 left before a hard earned basket and a free throw by Jimmy made it 23-21. Although the Wolverines would keep it close, the Falcons would not relinquish the lead again from this point. On the next possession Jimmy came down with a defensive rebound, dribbled the length of the court to the Lake free throw line, and passed to Kendrell on the left side of the basket. Brook had to foul to stop Kendrell. A single free throw by Kendrell and then a basket by Brook made it 24-22, still closer than it should be. Next, a wonderful scoring play by Lake started with a steal by Anthony Bilcic who passed off to Jimmy. Jimmy passed the full length of the court past Armie. Armie raced from behind the ball and as the ball was about to go out of bounds Armie grabbed it and made an off balance attempt as he was falling out of bounds to his right. Nothing but net. Another basket by Armie and a basket by Brook made it 28-24. With time running out in the half, Lake in-bounded the ball to Jimmy at mid-court. As Jimmy advanced the ball from mid-court directly toward the goal and the Brook defense converged on Jimmy, he passed to Kendrell as he drove in from the left side for a beautifully executed lay-up at the buzzer to close the quarter at 30-24. Still too close.

What should have happened in the second half is Lake should have come out and dominated the game due to increased defensive pressure along with improved offense. That is exactly what happened although the dominance was a long way from total. At the start of the quarter after a Brook free throw and a basket by Armie, Kendrell got a rebound, drove the length of the court, and made another graceful, crowd pleasing layup to make it 34-25 as he was fouled. For this ole timer, visions of Clyde Drexler when he was in high school began to creep out of the cobwebs of my mind. Kendrell’s free throw put Lake up by 10 for the first time, 35-25. Another basket and two free throws by Kendrell made it 39-27. Heads up play by Cody Kinsey enabled a steal so Cody passed to Andrew Gorie for a basket to make it 41-29. Another heads-up play by Fulton Brisco for a basket made it 43-29. A Brook goal closed the quarter at 43-31. The foul count was 6 (Lake) and 2.

In the final quarter, free throws by Brook narrowed the gap to 10, 45-35. Lake’s first five points came off free throws to make it 48-37 as Brook increased their fouling when Lake went to the hoop. Several “no calls” by the two junior officials and one senior ref hurt Lake in the second half or the score would have been even greater for Lake. A basket by Kendrell made it 50-37. A goal by Fulton on a quick drive to the basket from the left side made it 52-37. Then RJ stole the ball and drove from half court to score and make it 54-37. With just over one minute remaining in the game, a trey by Armie and a Brook bucket made it 57-39. Kendrell nailed his final three to make it 60-41. With 28 seconds remaining Brook nailed a three for the final score of 60-44.

FYI: For the first time at a Clear Lake High School basketball game, both the Brook JV coach and the Brook head coach were Clear Lake alumni and former Lake basketball stars. In addition, Brook JV coach Patrick McCoy and his wife had their first child on Tuesday evening while Lake was defeating Galveston Ball. Mom and baby are doing fine. Text messaging can be wonderful sometimes.

Individual Scoring:
Kendrell Thompson 24, Armie Lewis 11,
Jimmy Witten 9 (11 rebounds, 4 assists), Fulton Brisco 8, RJ Turner 5 (4 assists), Andrew Gorie 2, Anthony Bilcic 1

FALCON STATS	FG made	FG attempts	%
2's	17	42	40.5%
3's	4	17	23.5%
free throws	14	19	73.7%

SCORE BY QUARTER	1	2	3	4
Clear Lake	13	30	43	60
Clear Brook	14	24	31	44

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	Final
Clear Lake	13	17	13	17	60
Clear Brook	14	10	7	13	44

REBOUNDS	LAKE	THEM
Offensive	8	10
Defensive	15	16