Bulldogs fight to the finish

CLEAR LAKE – Interim coach Matt Lokenvitz’s Bulldogs put up an epic battle, but in the end fell short as the No. 10 Clear Lake boys’ basketball team ended their season with a 57-49 win on Monday, Feb. 22.

The Bulldogs had pulled within two with a few minutes remaining, but the Lions made their free throws down the stretch to provide the final difference in the Class 3A sub-state 2 opener between the two teams.

Both Marco Guerrero and Payton McNealy came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Freshman Scott Harr also came off the bench to lead the team in rebounds (five) and assists (four). Guerrero also proved to be pesky on defense, coming up with four steals despite foul trouble.

A pivotal moment in this contest, Clear Lake leading scorer Carson Toebe picked up his third foul and then was assessed for a technical for his fourth only mid-way through the second quarter. He sat until the fourth quarter and then was 5-of-6 from the free throw line in that last period.

Seven seniors graduate from the Bulldogs’ team that had flashes of competitiveness despite their record, which closes at 4-19.

Clear Lake 57, Bulldogs 49

Bulldogs (4-19, final)– Cal Heeren 3-8 1-3 9, Benji Sauke 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Severs 3-10 1-2 8, Marco Guerrero 4-11 1-4 12, Mario De La Cruz 0-4 2-2 2, Jace Spurgeon 1-1 0-0 2, Riley Heeren 0-0 0-0 0, Logan Pfeffer 0-0 0-0 0, Scott Harr 2-5 0-3 4, Payton McNealy 5-9 0-0 10, Colin Hill 1-2 0-0 2, Kale Folkerts 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-50 5-14 49.

Clear Lake (20-2)– Carson Toebe 1-4 5-6 8, Jagger Schmitt 4-5 1-1 11, Andrew Formanek 9-23 7-11 25, Travaughn Luyoboya 0-5 2-4 2, Eric Ritter 4-6 2-4 10, Joe Faber 0-1 0-0 0, Noah Petersen 0-1 1-2 1, PJ Feuerbach 0-0 0-0 0, Jett Neuberger 0-1 0-0 0, Tucker Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-46 18-28 57.

Bulldogs    12     9   11   17      -   49

Clear Lake17   13     9   18      -   57

Three-point goals– H-D 6-18 (Guerrero 3-7, C. Heeren 2-4, Severs 1-3, Harr 0-1, De La Cruz 0-3); CL 3-11 (Schmitt 2-3, Toebe 1-2, Luyoboya 0-1, Faber 0-1, Petersen 0-1, Formanek 0-3). Rebounds– H-D 21 (Harr 5, Guerrero 4, C. Heeren 3, Severs 3, McNealy 3, Hill 2, De La Cruz); CL 42 (Formanek 18, Luyobya 7, Ritter 6, Toebe 3, Schmitt 3, Faber 2, Petersen, Neuberger). Assists– H-D 13 (Guerrero 4, Severs 3, C. Heeren 2, McNealy 2, Spurgeon); CL 12 (Luyobya 5, Toebe 2, Schmitt, Formanek, Ritter, Faber, Petersen). Steals– H-D 12 (Guerrero 4, Severs 3, C. Heeren 2, McNealy 2, Spurgeon).Blocks – H-D 4 (Severs 2, Harr, Hill); CL 6 (Ritter 4, Toebe, Luyobya). Total fouls – H-D 22, CL 16. Fouled out – H-D (McNealy).