Clarkson/Leigh Boys 2-1 in last three games

The Clarkson/Leigh Boys have all of a sudden started to play better basketball as the Patriots knocked off Wisner-Pilger 56-53 at home last Tuesday night, and upset Logan View/Scribner-Snyder 64-58 in overtime in the first round of the East Husker Conference Tournament on the road Saturday. Clarkson/Leigh lost 65-61 to Lyons-Decatur Northeast in the semifinals of the tournament Monday night.

The Patriots jumped on the Gators and led 26-16 at the end of one. Wisner-Pilger won the second quarter 10-3 to make it a 29-26 game at halftime.

The Gators outscored Clarkson/Leigh 22-12 in the third quarter to go up 48-41 at the end of three.

The Patriots tripled up Wisner-Pilger 15-5 in the fourth quarter.


Colby Becker led the way with 21 points. Ben McMullin added 12 while Dominik Harper totaled 11. Kobe Paprocki notched 7 rebounds.

Logan View/Scribner-Snyder held an 8-7 lead on the Patriots at the end of one. Both teams scored 17 second quarter points, and the halftime score was 25-24 in favor of the Raiders.

Logan View/Scribner-Snyder won the third quarter 12-10 to go up 37-34 after three.

Clarkson/Leigh outscored the Raiders 19-16 in the fourth quarter to force overtime with the game tied at 53.

The Patriots outlasted Logan View/Scribner-Snyder 11-5 in the extra session.

McMullin and Brandon Steffensmeier had 14 points apiece. Becker added 11 while Paprocki and Tony Bruhn chipped in 7 apiece. Paprocki recorded 8 rebounds.

The Patriots led Lyons-Decatur Northeast 16-13 after one. Clarkson/Leigh outscored the Cougars 20-18 in the second quarter to lead 36-31 at halftime.

Lyons-Decatur Northeast won the third quarter 10-9 to make it a 45-41 game at the end of three.

The Cougars notched 24 fourth quarter points compared to 16 for the Patriots.

Becker totaled a team-high 17 points while Blake Paprocki registered 14. Kobe Paprocki had 10 points and 8 rebounds while Harper notched 8 points. McMullin added 8 rebounds.

Clarkson/Leigh has played at a very high level lately. I must say I've been impressed with the Patriots as of late.

Clarkson/Leigh (4-16) squares off with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family (11-7) on the road in an East Husker Conference Tournament Consolation game Friday night.

The Bulldogs lost 83-49 to Stanton in the tournament quarterfinals Monday night.

These two teams met in the season opener with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family winning 70-44.

I look for Friday night's game to be much closer than the first matchup was though.

I think the Patriots are playing at a higher level than they were then, and I'm not so sure the Bulldogs are the same team they were then either.

I don't know if Clarkson/Leigh is going to win Friday night, but I think the Patriots will be really competitive.

Perhaps Clarkson/Leigh can get over the hump and win, but it's going to be difficult with the game being on the road.

We will see though. It should be an interesting matchup for sure.

I think the biggest difference for the Patriots lately has been their offensive and defensive play.

Clarkson/Leigh has improved on both ends of the floor, and has played better and more consistent as of late.

The Patriots aren't quite where they want to be yet, but they are getting closer. Clarkson/Leigh appears to have saved their best for last, and that's a good thing.

The Patriots just have to finish this time, like they did against Wisner-Pilger and Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, but unlike the Lyons-Decatur Northeast game.