Clear Lake Falconhoops

Falcons prevail over state-ranked Elkins, 69-66.
(More photos are on the FALCONS ON THE COURT Page)
When fans are allowed the opportunity to witness two outstanding high school basketball teams compete in a tournament semifinal match-up you know the possibility for a great basketball game is there. When both teams play almost flawless ball it goes from really good to outstanding. When your team wins, it makes the victory that much sweeter when they defeat a team ranked in the top twenty in the state of Texas and fifth in the greater Houston area.

Saturday afternoon on December 2, 2006, in the semifinal game of the championship round of the CCISD Classic (the oldest high school tournament in the state of Texas) the Clear Lake Falcons matched up with the Elkins Knights. The Knights brought a record of 8-1 to the game with their only loss going to Kingwood. Kingwood is ranked third in the state in 5A.
In what could only be described as a great basketball game, two well matched, well coached, well prepared teams faced off in a contest that was a beauty to behold. Both teams played exceptionally well. With Elkins having a slight height advantage, the unranked underdog Falcons knew they had their work cut out for them. In my opinion prior to the game, victory for the Falcons hinged on the following:

1. using Lake’s aggressive defense to not allow the Knights to gain a substantial early lead,

2. making our free throws,

3. not allowing too many offensive rebounds for the Knights,

4. holding the Knights senior point guard, #11 Jeff Crocker to under 10 points. (Crocker had an outstanding tournament and had been the key to victory in the fourth quarter of some  of the Knights games this season. His season average scoring was 14 ppg. coming in to the tournament).

 The Knights had done a thorough job of scouting the Falcons and believed they could stop the double threat of RJ Turner and Armie Lewis. They knew if they played their game and could contain Clear Lake’s leading scorer, Kendrell Thompson, they would win the ball game.

What Elkins had not anticipated was Lake’s Jimmy Witten who was to become Clear Lake’s secret weapon in the game Witten, as Lake’s big man at 6’5”, had struggled against bigger inside men all season to hold his place. Noticeably unselfish, Witten has the second highest assist rate on the team and is fifth in scoring with a 6.3 ppg average. Witten also has the second highest number of steals on his team this season which is very rare for a post position player. Jimmy’s consistent hard work and unselfishness has earned him a special regard in the minds and hearts of many Clear Lake fans. At times there has been a glimmer of what is hidden underneath, so it was obvious to many that Witten’s potential had not yet been approached. Witten’s teammates knew it though.

What the Clear Lake fans saw and the Elkins Knights learned about Witten is that he is part grizzly bear and part ballerina. When he was not ferociously attacking the boards like he could smell fresh meat, he was out-finessing his opponent with a rapid swiveling move to the basket that left them behind him in bewilderment. Man, it was fun to watch!

Clear Lake trailed throughout the first quarter but kept it close. Jimmy Witten had 6 of Lake’s 14 points in the period. In the second quarter Armie Lewis kept Lake in the game with 8 points. At the half Clear Lake led by 6, 35-29. Elkins Jeff Crocker had not been a factor in the game on offense.

In the third quarter Elkins outscored Lake 18 to 14 and lagged behind 49-47. Lake was 3 of 14 from the field for the quarter. Lake’s outside shooting from three point land thus far in the game had failed them (2 of 13) so they would take no more three point shots. But the perimeter shooting and aggressive penetration of RJ Turner and Armie Lewis did not get shut down as Elkins had hoped. The duo garnered 24 points in the contest (11 coming from free throws). With Steven Hartman out for the season and no guards in reserve, stamina of the guard duo was questionable. Ample help off the bench helped facilitate the victory due to the utility of the forwards but lack of reserve guards would take its toll in the next game.

Elkins may have hampered Kendrell Thompson but they could not stop him. Kendrell would not allow it. For the game he went 7 of 10 from two point range although some were from the arc. In the fourth quarter Kendrell’s 8 points and three key rebounds combined with Jimmy’s 7 points and a key basket from Fulton Brisco. RJ Turner sank three critical free throws as well.

Despite poor shooting from the field by most of the Falcons, Clear Lake squeaked by with a  69-66 victory due to superb defense and outstanding play by Jimmy Witten and Kendrell Thompson. Kendrell finished with 19 points (7 rebounds overall). With 70% shooting from the floor and 5 of 7 from the charity stripe, Jimmy Witten finished with a career high 19 points and seven rebounds. Witten would receive the fictional game ball had there been one.

Elkins guard, Jeff Crocker, scored under ten points and did not even shoot the ball much in the game and especially in the fourth quarter when he was most needed. Perhaps it was due to the great defense by the Falcons and the outstanding work by Armie Lewis and RJ Turner. Elkins made 14 of 20 free throws. Lake made 19 of 28.

Individual Scoring:
Jimmy Witten 19 (7 rebounds, 4 assists), Kendrell Thompson 19 (7 rebounds), Armie Lewis 15 (7 assists),
RJ Turner 9, Fulton Brisco 3 (4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals), Christian Enriquez 3, Andrew Gorie 2

FALCON STATS	FG made	FG attempts	%
2's	22	39	56.4%
3's	2	13	15.4%
free throws	19	28	67.9%

SCORE BY QUARTER	1	2	3	4
Clear Lake	14	21	14	20
Elkins	16	13	18	19

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	Final
Clear Lake	14	35	49	69	69
Elkins	16	29	47	66	66

REBOUNDS	LAKE	THEM
Offensive	7	14
Defensive	15	17

No article forthcoming until the tournament finals game. After a torn ligament injury sustained in the La Porte game, Steven Hartman will be out for the remainder of the season. He will be truly missed.

Jimmy Witten sustained a hand injury during the second quarter of the Nacogdoches game but it should not prevent him from playing on Saturday.
 
Individual Scoring: Kendrell Thompson 18 (7 of 9 from the field), Armie Lewis 16, Jimmy Witten 13, Christian Enriquez 12, Fulton Brisco 11, Andrew Gorie 10, RJ Turner 9, Anthony Bilcic 6,

FALCON STATS	FG made	FG attempts	%
2's	20	38	52.6%
3's	11	21	52.4%
free throws	22	29	75.8%

SCORE BY QUARTER	1	2	3	4
Clear Lake	15	25	30	25
Nacogdoches	18	9	13	17

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	Final
Clear Lake	15	40	70	95	95
Nacogdoches	18	27	40	57	57

REBOUNDS	LAKE	THEM
Offensive	3
Defensive	14

On Day Three of the oldest Boys basketball tournament in the state of Texas, the Clear Lake Falcons defeated state ranked Elkins (17th in state) 69-66 in the semifinals to advance to the finals against #5 state ranked Desoto. Desoto prevailed with a final score of 58-47. See the FALCON FLASHES Page for game recaps. Photos of the Elkins game are located on the "Falcons On The Court" Page.

FYI: In the TABC latest 5A rankings Desoto is ranked 8th in the state and Elkins is ranked 12th in the state.

The Consolation Championship was won by Deer Park over Kempner.

Clear Lake won by 42 points. Nuff said.

Individual Scoring:

Armie Lewis 18 (7 rebounds in the first half), RJ Turner 12 (8 assists, 7 rebounds), Kendrell Thompson 12,
Fulton Brisco 9, Andrew Gorie 9, Anthony Bilcic 9, Jimmy Witten 7, Christian Enriquez 2

FALCON STATS	FG made	FG attempts	%
2's	22	49	44.9%
3's	6	12	50.0%
free throws	16	21	76.2%

SCORE BY QUARTER	1	2	3	4
Clear Lake	18	24	14	22
Scarborough	2	8	14	12

LINESCORE	1	2	3	4	Final
Clear Lake	18	42	56	78	78
Scarborough	2	10	24	36	36

REBOUNDS	LAKE	THEM
Offensive	12
Defensive	18

Updated no less than weekly during District play.