Lions remain perfect

The Clear Lake boys remain the only undefeated team in Class 3A after topping Iowa Falls-Alden, 81-55.  The win kept the Lions (11-0, 10-0) as number two in the rankings, as Dubuque Wahlert (10-1) replaced Harlan as the top team.  Harlan (11-1) dropped from the unbeaten ranks with a 

loss to Kuemper Catholic of Carroll last week.  Clear Lake and Wahlert had the same number of first place votes this week, but Wahlert leap-frogged past the Lions with one more point, according to Coach Kevin Kahler. 

The sometimes slow-starting Lions got off to a quick start against the Cadets (4-9, 3-7) Friday night.  

“We haven’t been playing real well in the first halves lately, but I thought we came out ready and played four good quarters,” said Coach Kevin Kahler.   The Lions went up 17-12 after one quarter and had a 10-point lead at the half, 42-32.

The third quarter was the big difference, with Clear Lake outscoring the visitor 19-15.  Scoring came easy, as the team shot 51 percent from field goal range and 48 percent from beyond the arc.  The Lions sunk 14 treys in the win.

“Offensively, we shot the ball extremely well, and defensively, I thought Matt Stephany and Pete Swenson did a nice job on Casey Schlatter,” noted Coach Kahler.  

The 6’8” Schlatter, a senior, was IF-A’s only real scoring threat.  He put in 36 of the Cadets’ 55 points, making 17 of 36 shots.  He drained four of 10 three-point attempts. No other Cadet scored more than five points.

“Our rebounding continues to improve, and our transition game was good.  We wanted to get out and run, and I thought that was a big key to our success tonight,” said Kahler.

Stephany and Swenson were also effective on offense, scoring 15 and 13 points respectively.  Stephany connected on eight of 11 shots, including a three-pointer, while Swenson was three-for-three from behind the arc, as well as five of eight from field goal range.

Spencer Davidson paced the Lions with five three-pointers and a total of 17 points.  Davis Dieken had a double-double, with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Brock Adams and Jack Abbas scored nine points apiece for the Lions.  Chase Lester added six points and Garrett Kunzman had a deuce.

The Lions were slated to travel to Webster City on Tuesday before returning home against Hampton on Friday.