The Clarkson/Leigh Boys Basketball Team has been competitive in the early going, but lost 55-44 at home to Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Friday night, and 67-60 at Madison on Saturday.
The Bulldogs won the 1st quarter 14-9 before the Patriots outscored HLHF 18-11 in the 2nd quarter to take a 27-25 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs outscored Clarkson/Leigh 15-8 in the 3rd quarter to go up 40-35 after three.
HLHF put up 15 points in the 4th quarter and held the Patriots to 9.
Anthony Bruhn had 15 points while Daniel Beller added 10 points and 11 rebounds, good enough for a double-double. Garrett Schroeder added 9 while Haden Held totaled 7.
Clarkson/Leigh led the Dragons 17-15 after one. Madison won the 2nd quarter 12-9 to take a 27-26 lead into the locker room.
The Patriots won the 3rd quarter 16-15 to tie the game at 42 at the end of three.
The Dragons outscored Clarkson/Leigh 25-18 in the 4th quarter.
Beller had team-highs of 17 points and 7 rebounds while Bruhn added 10 points. Schroeder chipped in 9 while Jacob Gall registered 7.
I thought the Patriots did a great job of competing in both games. Clarkson/Leigh just wasn't able to put together a full four quarter game in either contest.
The Patriots (0-2) host Oakland-Craig (0-2) Tuesday night.
The Knights lost 62-54 at home to Boys Town on Saturday.
Oakland-Craig has been without Garrett Seagren, and if he doesn't play, then Clarkson/Leigh should have a chance to win.
The biggest things for the Patriots, in my opinion, are playing a complete four quarter game and playing strong defense.
I don't think scoring has been an issue for Clarkson/Leigh with the exception of the 2nd half against HLHF, it has just been their defense that has hurt them for the most part I would say.
I know defense has been a major focus and focal point for the Patriots this season...now it's a matter of going out there and slowing people down.
The Knights are a very explosive team offensively, with or without Seagren, and I look for this one to be a high scoring affair.
I think Clarkson/Leigh will compete well and give Oakland-Craig a run for their money, but I think the difference between winning and losing comes down to getting stops on defense and playing a complete four quarter game.
The Patriots gave up 1/4 of 100 in the 4th quarter of Saturday's game, and Clarkson/Leigh has to be better than that defensively late in games if they want to pick up wins.
I give the Patriots a lot of credit for tying the game with Madison through 3 quarters, but Clarkson/Leigh has to simply finish.
Solid starts and close quarters are good, but it ultimately comes down to how you finish when it comes to close games.
So far the Patriots have been on the losing end of a couple of close contests, now it's a matter of getting over that hump, and turning these close losses into wins.
Clarkson/Leigh can definitely do it. Beller, Bruhn, Schroeder, Gall, and Held have been good so far, now it's a matter of the Patriots continuing to do what they have offensively and fine tuning some things on defense.
Things like boxing out and contesting shots are going to be very important against the Knights, in my opinion.
I feel this game is going to come down to heart, desire, determination, hustle, and want to.
The Clarkson/Leigh Girls Basketball Team is off to a 1-1 start, falling 40-28 at home to Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family in Friday night's season opener, before winning 55-26 at Madison on Saturday.
The Bulldogs led 6-4 after one, and outscored the Patriots 15-6 in the 2nd quarter to take a 21-10 lead into the locker room.
Clarkson/Leigh outscored Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 14-6 in the 3rd quarter to get back into it at 27-24.
The Bulldogs notched 13 points in the 4th quarter compared to 4 for the Patriots to make up the final score.
Clarkson/Leigh jumped on the Dragons early, getting out to a 10-2 lead after one. The Patriots outscored Madison 19-7 in the 2nd quarter to take a 29-9 lead into the locker room.
Clarkson/Leigh won the 3rd quarter 14-10 to make it a 43-19 game at the end of three.
The Patriots put up 12 4th quarter points, and held the Dragons to 7.
I was going to say after the HLHF game that Clarkson/Leigh needed to do a better job of finishing games and play a compete four quarter game, but the Patriots quickly bounced back and did that against Madison, in my opinion.
Clarkson/Leigh (1-1) hosts Oakland-Craig (2-0) Tuesday night.
The Knights won 60-19 at home over Boys Town on Saturday.
This game is a big opportunity for the Patriots I feel.
Oakland-Craig is without Dacey Nelson the whole season, although Kennedy Benne has done an excellent job of stepping up I would say.
The Patriots are a very good team defensively though, and I look for this to be a very close, tight, and good contest.
It will be interesting to see if Clarkson/Leigh can get over the hump.
I feel the Knights have been more consistent to this point, yet I think the Patriots have played tougher competition.
This should be a great game. The only concern I have is can Clarkson/Leigh's offense do enough to win?
I think they can, but it's not going to be easy whatsoever.
These are the types of games the Patriots need to win to be viewed a title contender though I would say.
GACC has already proven they are going to be very tough in Sub-Districts so that makes every regular season game that much more important.
Clarkson/Leigh has to continue to get better and step up their game like they did from Game 1 to Game 2.
The Patriots have to come out and be focused and be intense against Oakland-Craig Tuesday night.
This is a big game and week for Clarkson/Leigh with road games at Winside and BRLD on Thursday and Friday, and the Patriots have to get the week started off on the right foot.
I think this game against the Knights will sort of set the tone for the rest of the week.
I think Clarkson/Leigh has a chance to go 3-0 or 2-1 this week, but the Patriots have to dig deep and find something extra, and want it more than each of their opponents, and in particular, Oakland-Craig.
Clarkson/Leigh has to come out and play with a burning fire, passion, and must also play with a lot of pride, mental and physical toughness, tenacity, and grit.
The Patriots are at home, and must have the mentality that no one is going to come in their house and beat them, even though the Bulldogs already did.
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