Clear Lake boys overcome adversity for postseason win

(Above) Eric Ritter finished the night scoring in double digits with 10 points.  He also had four blocked shots.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

Playing a team three times in a season is never an easy feat.  And when the third time happens to be in post-season, it’s even harder.

“Tourney wins are always hard to come by -- nobody wants their season to end,” said Clear Lake Coach Jeremey Ainley.  “We did not play our best or sharpest.  We dealt with a little adversity, but I was proud of the way our guys battled and persevered.  We made winning plays down the stretch to come out with a win.”

Seven made free throws in the final two and one-half minutes gave Clear Lake a 57-49 victory Monday over Hampton-Dumont-CAL.  The Lions advance to play Spencer (14-7) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Clear Lake.  Spencer downed Estherville Lincoln Central, 61-58, in their Monday night game.

The Lions defeated Hampton-Dumont-CAL by 33 points in December and by 19 as recently as three weeks ago.  So when they jumped out to a 15-2 Monday lead it seemed like deja vu all over again.

“In the first quarter we got some easy buckets and it was like fool’s gold,” said Coach Ainley.  “Give them credit.  They made some good shots and hung around.”

The Bulldogs closed the gap to end the first quarter 17-12 and although the Lions pushed their lead to as many as 12, H-D stayed within striking distance.

At times, the Lions were their own worst enemy, committing a half-dozen turnovers and several fouls.

Soon after a basket pulled them to within 24-16, the Bulldogs pulled off a steal and Clear Lake’s Carson Toebe was called for a foul in a scramble for the ball.  The situation worsened when Toebe was whistled for a technical and forced to the sidelines with four fouls with 3:39 remaining in the half.  Successful Bulldog free throws closed the score to 24-18.

Senior Andrew Formanek helped to steady the ship, making baskets and free throws to give the Lions a more comfortable 30-21 lead at halftime.

The Lions kept the Bulldogs at bay by 10 or more points until the final two-minutes of the third quarter.  Again, fouls and turnovers began to haunt the Lions.  By the end of the period the lead had diminished to 39-32.  Midway through the fourth, it was 44-42 Clear Lake.

With the season on the line, it was time for Toebe to re-enter the game and the Lions to dig deep.  The senior wasted no time helping the team by draining free throws for a four-point lead.  A basket by Formanek made it six points.

But the Bulldogs wouldn’t quit.  A three-point basket by Marco Guerrero made it a one-point game, 50-49. Two more Toebe free throws again provided a little breathing room, 52-49.  Travaughn Luyobya and Formanek also sunk free throws for the win.

Formanek led the team with 25 points and 18 rebounds.   Toebe was five-for-six from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with eight points in