Clear Lake Falconhoops

          The previous meeting between the Falcons and the Gators can be thrown out the window. The last time the two teams faced off Clear Lake put up 85 points. Dickinson is a completely different team from the team that took a 41 point beating at the hands of the Falcons.  

          Mark McCollum started things off right with a three pointer from the wing. Mark finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. #15 Dedrick Archie, from Dickinson led all scorers with 16 points.  Clear Lake's Blake Gregorcyk closed out the quarter with a deep three. Blake’s three put the score at 16-12 with Dickinson ahead. The first quarter was littered with missed lay-ups and opportunities for Clear Lake. 

          The Falcons went to their leading scorer, Kyle Ashton, in the second period. #4 Ashton scored two straight buckets to trim the lead to two points. Kyle had a monster game with 15 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists. The next possession Jared Miller could not bring down the ball so he put in a nice tip in with four minutes to go. Miller’s tip gave Lake its first lead in the game. Matt McCollum, who has been hot lately, got the Falcons closer with two made free throws. Clear Lake trailed Dickinson at the half 28-24.  Lake needed something to counter the quickness of the tandem of guards for Dickinson. 

          In the third quarter Clear Lake came out of the gates running, literally, going on a 6-2 run highlighted by a steal by Matt, and a beautiful give and go from Matt to Jacob and finishing with a lay-up by Matt in what could only be regarded as impressive team basketball. The third period proved to be a period of runs because Dickinson followed Lake’s run with a 6-0 run themselves, making the score 34-30, Dickinson. After a Kyle Ashton three, Clear Lake recovered a loose ball and Jackson Hardage finished the hustle play with two points of his own. Jackson’s bucket put Lake ahead for the quarter by the score of 43-45.

           The final period began with Mark McCollum leading Lake to a 6-0 run with all six points being put in by Mark. The run was ignited with a jaw dropping backdoor play from Nick Arrington to Mark McCollum who finished with a lay-up at the rim. Nick Arrington led the team in assists with seven for the game. 

          After a three by Dickinson’s #11 trimming Lake’s lead to seven making it 46-53, neither team scored for the next 3:30 of the game. The next action came with 1:10 left in the game. Dickinson’s Archie went up for a lay-up and was fouled. On what seemed to be a quick whistle, Nick Arrington was called for a very untimely technical foul. Archie made all four free throws, and his teammate scored to make that a six point possession. In one play the Gators climbed back into the game.

          It was time for the Falcons to play defense and put the last play and poor officiating behind them. Matt McCollum understood that and with 15 seconds to go and Lake ahead by 1 they needed to do something. That something was a steal by #11 Matt McCollum.  The steal, probably the most key play of the game, proved to be the game winner and closed the door on any Dickinson comeback. Lake finished the game with an alley-oop to Jackson Hardage from Kyle Ashton. Jackson’s lay-up as time expired capped off a third straight game in which the Falcons games came down to the wire. Lake Beat Dickinson by the final score of 52-55.

         Clear Lake sits at fourth place (5-3) currently in the District with all the top teams winning their games Friday night. Clear Lake has another big matchup upcoming against Brazoswood on Tuesday and then Clear Creek the following Friday.          

For results of other District  action tonight, go to the District 24-5A Schedule/Scores Page. 

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Kyle Ashton 15 (11 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists), Mark McCollum 14 (7 rebs., 4 assists, 5 of 5 free throws),

Jacob 8, Jackson 7 (5 rebs.), Matt 4 (4 steals, 3 assists, 1 CD),  Jared 4, Blake 3, Nick (7 assists).