Clare boys play to road win over Ogemaw Heights

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

When the Clare boy’s basketball team hosted Ogemaw Heights back in early December, it was a disappointing two-point loss. Things were a different story on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when the Pioneers got their revenge, topping the Falcons on their home court, 55-33.

“That’s a great improvement, all the way around, it’s really starting to click now,” head coach Byron Schunk said of the Jack Pine Conference win. “It’s a great feeling for the players whenever that happens, you know all the hard work is paying off. That’s one thing about basketball, you usually get two chances on team.”

Clare certainly made the most of their second chance. They fell behind 5-2 early on, but back-to-back hoops from Ryan Louch put them in front 6-5 and Dane Alexander followed that with a steal and a fastbreak the other way for an 8-5 advantage.

Late in the opening frame Jayden Arthur hit a pair of field-goals, helping Clare to a 16-7 advantage after one.

Arthur kept the hot had in the opening moments of the second, netting two quick hoops; the second of which was finishing a fast break that gave Clare a 20-7 advantage. Louch and Parker Smith both hit one three and one two-pointer each in the quarter as well and Clare had a healthy 30-18 lead at the half.

Louch and Alexander both hit threes in the third to help Clare stay in control. Chase Randall got a two-pointer to fall and the Pioneers were well ahead after three, 45-26.

The Pioneers were led by Louch with 16 points, Arthur scored 10, Smith added nine, Alexander was able to net eight, Brenden Burton scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter Truett Powell hit a three pointer to account for his three points and Randall added three points as well.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, Clare lost a home JPC contest with a really strong Standish-Sterling squad, 52-46. Compared how the meeting went with the Panthers, Schunk really liked what his team accomplished in this one.

“Standish, they are a great team, we got down to them early, but the guys fought back, got to within four with two minutes to play,” Schunk said. “We did end up getting beat by six, but a great effort by everybody. We got beat by 29 the first time we played them, so we’ve improved quite a bit. It was a good team effort; everyone is working together.”

Clare had a solid first quarter, and was down just 14-12 after one. Alexander hit a three in the second and Luch netted four points in that frame, but they still fell a bit further back, 30-26 at the half.

Alexander hit another three in the third, which saw him score six points, and they were still in the game entering the fourth, down 38-34. A pair of field-goals by Louch helped them still right in the mix until the end.

The Pioneers were led by Alexander who scored 18 points and Louch who netted 11. Smith contributed five points, Arthur and Randall both had four and adding two points each was Porter Harsh and Burton.

Clare (6-10 overall, 5-6 JPC) was at home with Meridian on Tuesday, has another home contest when they take on Bullock Creek today (Thursday), will play over at Gladwin on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and they’ll play a non-league game at Reed City on Monday, Feb. 17.