Lions slam Bulldogs in opening round of play-offs

(Above) Clear Lake seniors Mac Adams (left) and Chase Stuver bring the ball down the floor during Monday’s nights game. Stuver came off the bench and scored seven points for the Lions.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

Top ranked and undefeated Clear Lake was simply too much for Hampton-Dumont Monday night in the opening round of the Class 3A Substate 2 play-offs.  The 21-0 Lions coasted to a 67-22 win.

There was little doubt from the start that there would be no difficulty in beating the Bulldogs for a third time this season.  Clear Lake ended the first quarter with a 21-0 lead and was ahead at the half, 36-6.

A running clock was started early in the third quarter and the entire Lion lineup contributed to the victory.

“It was a good team effort,” said Clear Lake Coach Jeremey Ainley.  “We came in with the right mentality and defended well throughout the game.  I thought our focus was where it needed to be.”

Jack Barragy was a spark off the bench for the Lions.  In addition to being a leader on the Lion defense, Barragy had a hot hand and put in a team-high 16-points.  Carson Toebe was next with 13, all scored in the first half.

Chase Stuver also came off the bench to give the Lions seven points, all scored in the second half.  Andrew Formanek had six first half points and nine rebounds.

The remainder of the scoring was provided by Drew Enke and Kody Kearns with five apiece, Tate Storbeck four, Mac Adams three, and Carter Backhaus, Jaylen DeVries, Will Finn and Jared Penning each with two-points.  Penning also pulled down five rebounds.

As a team, the Lions shot at 53 percent in the game, compared to just 15 percent for the Bulldogs.  They out-rebounded the competition, 34-24, and had just 13 turnovers to Hampton’s 20.

The Lions will meet another North Central Conference foe in the next round.  Thursday night they will face Algona in a 7 p.m. game on the Lions’ home court.  Algona bested Waverly-Shell Rock, 66-53 in their opening round.  The winner will play in the sub-state final in Mason City on Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.  for the chance to play in the State Tournament.

“It comes down to execution at this point,” said Coach Ainley.  “We know what each other is going to do.”