Mixed results for Maroons basketball
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CLINTON — After playing in the Cerro Gordo Thanksgiving Tournament, the Maroons returned home with a 2-2 record. The tournament was not kind to the Maroons.
Clinton won its first game against Heyworth 59-54. Then came county rivals Blue Ridge who took the Maroons to task. The Maroons committed 25 fouls with four players fouling out and the team seemed to have no energy or consistent effort.
Clinton lost this game 35-46.
Then the Maroons faced Villa Grove-Heritage and again suffered on defense while committing numerous turnovers for a 56-42 loss.
Their final tournament game pitted the Maroons against Champaign U-high. The team finally clicked, became more focused, and played better in transition. Even with a slow beginning in the first quarter, the Maroons took a 63-29 win to end the tournament on a positive note.
Then came the Tri-Valley Vikings to invade the Maroons home court.
The home team came off the bench firing on all cylinders going from a 5 point lead at the end of the first quarter to a 10 point lead at halftime. Clinton played great defense and took advantage of all Viking mistakes. The game didn't end there though, at least for Tri-Valley.
The second half was a complete switch in teams as though some magic had switched the teams in the locker rooms. Clinton came out flat and without team communication, which the Vikings took advantage of. The Maroons made a run late in the game, but did not have the stamina to overcome the hole they had dug for themselves.
The Maroons took a 61-56 loss in their home opener and are now 2-3 on the season.