Lions drop heartbreaking opener; roar back on the road

The Clear Lake boys dropped their opener, but roared back on the road to go 1-1 after their first week of play under new Head Coach Jeremy Ainley.   The team is off until Thursday, Dec. 11, when they travel to Charles City.  On Friday, Dec. 12, they host St. Ed’s for their North 

Central Conference opener.

West Fork 61, CL 60

West Fork successfully executed a three-point play with 11.7 seconds left in the ball game to get a 61-60 win over Clear Lake in both teams’ season opener Tuesday night, Dec. 2.

The Lions led most of the way, holding a 29-27 advantage at halftime and a 45-41 edge at the end of the third quarter, but the fourth quarter went back and forth between the two squads. 

The Warhawks, a state qualifier last year in Class 2A, were steady at the free throw line, going 10/12 in the final quarter to help get the win.

Brock Adams used six three-pointers to lead his teaming scoring with 27 points.  Matt Stephany sunk 17 points and led the team in rebounds with six.  Tamarik Lee finished with five points, while Parker Truesdell, Tanner Storbeck and Thomas Storbeck each had three points.  Devin Uhlenhopp scored two points.

CL 67, H-D 53

A big second half gave the Clear Lake boys a 67-53 North Central Conference win over Hampton-Dumont Friday, Dec. 5.   Seniors Brock Adams and Devin Uhlenhopp scored 22 and 12 points respectively and sophomore Thomas Storbeck put in 14 points to lead the Lions past Hampton-Dumont, 67-53.

Adams and Storbeck were both scoring threats from beyond the arc.  Each player sunk four three-pointers. Uhlenhopp scored eight of his points at the free throw line.

The Bulldogs, playing on their home court, jumped out to an 11-7 first quarter lead, but the Lions outscored their host 14-9 in the second to hold a slim 21-20 halftime lead.  Adjustments at halftime helped the Lions control the remaining periods for the 14-point win.

Senior Matt Stephany controlled the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds, nine of them on defense, to go with his five points.  He also blocked two shots and had a steal on defense, and dished out five assists on the other end of the court.

Tamarik Lee and Justin Sholly each scored five points for the Lions, while Tanner Storbeck and Parker Truesdell each had a bucket.   

The Lions shot 16/21 from the free throw line in the game.  They shot 40 percent from the field.

Clear Lake, along with Algona, Humboldt and Webster City, are all 1-0 in the NCC after the first week.