CLINTON — Except for the fact Central A&M scored first in its game against the varsity Maroons on Feb. 9, the Raiders ultimately found it too much going against the Maroon’s defense.

The Raiders’ Hunter White hit for 2 as the game got under way before a packed house at Clinton High School.  A second basket put the Raiders up 4-0 before the Maroon’s Brooks Cluver hit for 3 followed by two more, Clinton ahead 5-4.

The Maroons began extending their 1^st quarter lead, Colton Walker with two baskets as the Maroons’ points added up.  Carter Thomas hit for 2 putting the Maroons ahead 14-6.

Clinton scoring continued on an offensive drive.  Mason Walker took a foul, as did Anthony Westbrooks, but Walker then put in a 3-point shot followed by Westbrooks for 2, Clinton out in front 22-8.

The Raider did manage two more, but the quarter ended with the Maroons up by 12, 22-10.

Second quarter Clinton scoring faced some resistance from the Raiders, but the Maroons stayed out front of any opposition advance, scoring 13-9 against the Raiders.

The Maroons went into the locker room at the half with a comfortable 35-19 lead.

Third quarter scoring kept the Maroons ahead, but the 4^th quarter told the story of this game as the Raiders crumbling under the weight of Maroons’ defense.

Mason Walker scored a 3-pointer followed by the Raiders’ Gavin Houchins matching it with his own 3.  But, at this point, Raiders’ scoring all but stopped as the Maroons’ defense harassed the opposition and began scoring almost at will.

The 4^th quarter was all Clinton as they wrapped up this win 70-35, taking them to 25-4 overall, 5-0 in conference play.

The Maroons clinched the 2023-2024 CIC Conference Championship.