CLC men win on Washington 3

The Central Lakes College men's basketball team resembled a desperate homeowner fixing a leaking pipe with duct tape Saturday. It sure wasn't pretty, but the Raiders got the job done.

After an atrocious first half in which CLC put up just 20 points, it rebounded in the second half and capped off its second straight victory on a three-point basket by George Washington with 3.4 seconds remaining.

Wires were apparently crossed in the Raiders' huddle setting up the team's last play.

Washington, who finished with 16 points, said it wasn't his plan to take the final shot.

"On that last play we were on the wrong sides. I was supposed to be on (Kody) Braddix's side and he was supposed to be on my side," he said. "I was ready to pass to him. The only thing running through my mind was Pass to Braddix.' He had the hot hand all night. But as long as it went in, it's all good."

The key: CLC shot 14-24 (58.3 percent) from the floor in the second half

Conference: CLC 3-1, H 0-3

Overall: CLC 10-5

Next: CLC at Fergus Falls, 6 p.m. Wednesday

All's well that end's well. But things sure did start ugly. CLC committed 12 turnovers while going 7-21 (33.3 percent) from the field, 1-9 (11.1 percent) from three-point range and 5-11 (45.5 percent) from the free throw line.

Despite the statistics that appeared to age Raiders coach Jim Russell a few years in the first half, the Raiders went into the locker room down just 24-20.

CLC shot well in the second half, going 14-24 (58.3 percent) from the field, 5-9 (55.6 percent) from beyond the arc and 11-14 (78.6 percent) from the charity stripe to help them hang on for the hard-fought victory.

Russell said the most important thing from Saturday's win is his team found a way to pull out a victory even when it wasn't at its best.

"One of the goods thing is we stuck with it and executed plays at the end. The leaders, Braddix and Washington, stepped up, took care of the ball and made the shots when we needed them to," he said. "You're going to have some games like this and luckily we just happened to make one more shot than they did."

Hibbing 24 37 - 61

Central Lakes 20 44 - 64

CENTRAL LAKES

George Washington 16, Kody Braddix 22, Matt Moorman 5, C.J. Peeters 5, Dustin Monson 8, Ryan Peeters 2, Fritz Renelus 6. Team totals: FG 21-45 (46.7 percent), FT 16-25 (64 percent), 3-point baskets: 6 (Washington 2, Braddix 3, Moorman), Turnovers 23, Rebounds 35 (Peeters 5).

HIBBING

Tremaine Hill 12, Ian Williams 10, Jesse Quick 6, Ryan Ervin 3, Kevin Donnell 9, Bruce Merrell 4, Sam Kenyi 9, Dustin Rahja 8. Team totals: FG 26-58 (44.8 percent), FT 3-8 (37.5 percent), 3-point baskets: 6 (Hill 2, Williams 2, Ervin, Donnell), Turnovers 21, Rebounds 29 (Kenyi 9).

TY RUSHMEYER may be reached at ty.rushmeyer@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5865.