Clear Lake Falconhoops

 Dec 29-30 - Cedar Park Tournament

 Game 1 - Lake defeated Austin Westwood 64-55. 

 Game 2 - Lake won over a very scrappy San Antonio Madison 62-55 in a very close contest which was not decided until the last 55 seconds. Could have gone either way (sound familiar?).

Lake faces host school Vandergrift at 10:30 am Friday in the semifinals. Lake previously defeated the Vipers in the Corpus Christi Tournament by 20 points but they are a much improved team.

Game 3 Semifinals -  Clear Lake 49 - Vandergrift 41

In one of the two most dismal first half performances in Clear Lake basketball history the Falcons played as if they had the "Boy, did I stay up too late blues". Scoring only 12 points in the first half, Lake allowed a mediocre Vandergrift team to lead for three quarters. Lake's other least impressive start was two years minus one day ago when, in 2014, Lake's team which later went to the state finals, scored only 13 points against Arlington Seguin in the first half of the opener in the Austin Westlake Tournament. Maybe it is something in the Austin drinking water? Anyway, Lake got on track in the fourth quarter to score 24 points and pull off a victory. Fortunately, games like this are rare.

Game 4 - Championship Game. Lake 71 - Hendrickson 63

Lake faced off against a very competitive Pfleugerville Hendrickson team that listed 7 players at 6'4" or better on their roster. This tall, lanky bunch was a formidable challenge. Fortunately, Lake got back on track after their lackluster semifinal showing and demonstrated which team was the best team in the tournament. In a close game where the lead changed multiple times in the second half, the outcome was not obvious until the waning seconds. Making free throws down the stretch assured the victory. Ajare Sanni had 35 points and sophomore Casey Davis had 11. Riley Abercrombie was chosen for the All Tournament Team and Ajare Sanni was selected Tournament MVP. Lake is now 14-5

 Tournament Summary - Lake's second leading scorer and rebounder, sophomore Jeremiah Maldonado, will require surgery on his knee and is out for the season. He did not play in the tournament.  Masterful coaching and impressive performances from Lake's reserves made the difference in each of these four games. Ajare Sanni, Casey Davis, Rian Davis, and Max Woerner all rose to the challenge when they were called upon and their efforts were among the keys to victory. This bodes well for Lake's chances in district play which starts next Tuesday at home against Dickinson who is expected to win the district by those who claim to know.