6 seed South Gray overpowers Clifton-Clyde to advance

DODGE CITY, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - The South Gray Rebels advance to the semifinal round of the Class 1A Division I State Basketball Tournament with a 75-63 victory over the Clifton Clyde Eagles.

Clifton Clyde scored first with a three-pointer. South Gray quickly made the deficit one point. Both sides would trade the lead until under two minutes left in the quarter when South Gray’s Dominic Martin hit a three to put them ahead 14-11.

At the end of the quarter, the lead was 19-14 South Gray.

South Gray would increase the lead to 19 points at the end of the second quarter. They also did not make a single trip to the free-throw line in the first half.

Clifton Clyde began to nibble into the Rebel lead in the third quarter. At the end of the quarter, the Eagles trailed 58-45.

Fifteen seconds into the fourth quarter, Clifton Clyde’s Coy Steinbrock hit a three-pointer to make the Rebel lead 58-48. South Gray coach Mark Applegate quickly called a full timeout.

Coming out of the break the Rebels made two quick baskets to extend the lead again.

Clifton Clyde could not get closer than eight points for the rest of the game.

Eagle Jack Skocny led all scorers with 25 points on five baskets, three three-pointers, and six of eight at the free-throw line. Seth Leclair added 10 points on three field goals and four made free throws. Trent Long also scored 10 points with four baskets and two of three from behind the free-throw line.

Four Rebels scored 15 or more points. Carter Jantz, Jorge Lupercio, and Dominic Martin all scored 15 points. Joseph Dyck scored 18 points.

Clifton Clyde ends their season with a 21-3 record.

South Gray will take on Macksville on Friday, March 10th at 8:00 PM for a chance to play for the State Championship.

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