The Hampton-Dumont-CAL boys basketball team couldn’t keep pace at #1 (3A) Clear Lake, falling 74-27 in Monday’s substate postseason first round, as aired on 104.9 KLMJ.
The Bulldogs remained within striking distance throughout the majority of the first half. But in the closing minutes of the half, Clear Lake racked up several takeaways and connected on points off turnovers to go up 38-18 at halftime. That momentum carried into the third quarter, and Clear Lake’s physicality and speed took over to put the game out of reach. The running clock rule went into effect in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs only managed nine points in the second half. Head Coach Brian Niesen says his team stayed in it as long as they could.
“Our goal coming in, we wanted to put a little game pressure on them and just hang around for as long as we could,” Niesen says. “30 to 18 at halftime we would have been would have been okay with, where you’re one run away from being in striking distance. But a not not so great end of the half there. They’re they’re obviously really good and really deep, they just keep cycling guys in and out and they don’t skip a beat when they bring in their reserves. If they cut down the nets in a couple of weeks in Wells Fargo, nobody would be surprised.”
Brady Harr and Hunter Rieken each scored six points to lead the Bulldogs.
Hampton-Dumont-CAL has had its season close at 4-19.
Brian Niesen interview:
