MUSCATINE —
Clinton answered every challenge Friday night and defeated Muscatine 57-49 in Mississippi Athletic Conference boys basketball for a season series sweep.
“We made it interesting at times — we played well in spurts, then had a couple of possessions where we let them creep back in — but we never felt we lost control,” Clinton coach Nick Lawrence said.
The River Kings (6-13) scored the first four points and never trailed as they improved to 3-11 in the MAC. Jalen Jones scored on a fastbreak layup to snap a 4-4 tie and Brady Ernst followed with a slam dunk to put the Kings up 8-4 with 3 minutes, 36 seconds left in the first quarter.
Getting Ernst off to a good start was a key for the Kings. He had been held to a total of three points in the past two games.
“He put together a really solid game,” Lawrence said. “By our count he had 16 rebounds, five assists and a handful of blocks — a phenomenal stat line. When he’s proficient like that, he’s tough to stop.”
After a Muscatine free throw, Clinton reeled off six straight points to push the lead to 14-5. But, every time the Kings got some separation on the scoreboard, the Muskies (4-15, 3-11) responded with their own run.
Muscatine got within 18-17 when Austin Lohman scored five straight points, including a banked-in 3-pointer midway through the second quarter. But, Derrick Howard made 1 of 2 free throws and Ernst followed with a 3-point basket to push Clinton’s lead back to five.
The Muskies pulled within 25-23 when Adam Miller scored the first basket of the second half, but Jacob Judd answered with a basket and Jones tossed in a 3-pointer.
Minutes later, a 3-pointer by Jones extended Clinton’s lead to 35-25, but once again Muscatine clawed back. The Muskies scored six straight to get within 35-31.
But, after a Clinton timeout with 2:08 left in the third quarter, Jones went on a spree after which the Muskies never were within one possession of tying the game again.
Jones scored nine consecutive points, capping his personal run with a breakaway dunk that gave Clinton a 44-31 lead with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter.
“That’s the nice thing about this year — when we’ve needed big baskets, Jalen has delivered,” Lawrence said. “When he brings the mentality that he’s the best player on the floor, it helps the whole team.”
Down the stretch, Muscatine pulled within 48-44 on a 3-pointer by Adam Miller, but a three-point play by Clinton’s Tyler Thacker countered that, and the River Kings held on.
“Both Jacob (Judd) and Thacker came up with big plays,” Lawrence said. “Those were huge baskets that allowed us to keep the momentum in our favor.”
Clinton will try to keep its momentum going Tuesday when it plays host to Davenport West, a team it beat on the road earlier this season.
Clinton
February 9, 2013
River Kings defeat Muskies
- Clinton
-
- Event to benefit cultural center CLINTON -- The third annual 5K run/walk to benefit the St. Irenaeus Cultural Center will be held Memorial Day. The "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" starts at 8 a.m. Monday outside of St. Irenaeus at 2811 N. Second St. Runners and walkers can register
-
Fitness club is expanding
CLINTON — Less than two years after opening, the Iron Horse Fitness Club is more than tripling their space by moving to the former Rodeo Saloon and Feedhouse. Owners Ashley and Brad Gendreau, 31, of Thomson, Ill., will move by August from the locatio
- Clinton avoids heavy storm CLINTON -- Jim Blaess, official weather observer for the National Weather Service, said Clinton County was lucky during Sunday's storms. "We dodged a bullet," said Blaess, adding that the county did not see any tornados. The county did not receive a
-
Clinton law enforcement honored
CLINTON — Members of the Clinton Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office commemorated National Police Week with an awards ceremony and a memorial ceremony to honor those who protect the community.
-
2 finalists named for city administrator
CLINTON — Two finalists have been selected in the search for Clinton's next city administrator: Clinton Finance Director and interim City Administrator Jessica Kinser and Joliet, Ill., Assistant City Manager Benjamin Benson.
-
Students honored at ceremony
CLINTON -- Seventy-four students from Clinton High School's class of 2013 were honored Thursday during the 27th annual senior honors convocation. The class of 2013 has taken more Advanced Placement tests and has earned some of the highest scores on
-
Jail escapee pleads guilty
CLINTON -- A man who escaped from the Clinton County jail on April 6 will spend as much as 10 years in prison. Kendrell Keith, 18, pleaded guilty Thursday to the escape and the second-degree theft charge that put him in jail.
-
Council targets late bills
CLINTON - Business owners won't be able to dodge sewer bills while staying in operation under an ordinance amendment that was approved by City Council members Tuesday.
-
Group eyes bandshell improvement
CLINTON -- A group of Clinton volunteers wants to transform the Riverview bandshell from an unkempt structure to an attractive venue for community events. Members of Vision 8, a Clinton-based nonprofit organization working together to improve the ima
- Council explores new solid-waste system CLINTON -- City officials are considering paying the Minnesota firm that evaluated the solid waste system $17,000 to help in the search for a solid-waste service provider. The $17,000 would be paid to Springsted in order for the firm to assemble a r
- More Clinton Headlines
