CLIFTON – Closing out their non-district schedule on a positive note, the Clifton Cub boys basketball team will open District 17-3A competition today when the Cubs play host to the West Trojans at 7:30 p.m. in the Clifton High School Gymnasium.
After taking a week off for the Christmas break, Clifton (12-4) returned to action in the Troy Christmas Tournament Dec. 27-28. The Cubs opened the tournament with a 39-31 victory over the Meyer Ravens last Friday morning before falling to Jarrell, 51-40, Friday afternoon.
Although the Cubs jumped out to an early 14-11 lead, Jarrell took a 26-24 advantage into the locker room at halftime, then took control of the game by outscoring Clifton, 19-7, in the third period. The Cubs closed out the tournament with a 49-36 loss to Skidmore-Tynan on Saturday.
In the win over Meyer, senior TJ Ferch led the Cubs with 12 points before sophomore Seth Payne tossed in a team-high 14 points in the loss to Jarrell. Against Skidmore-Tynan, Payne once again led the Cubs with 13 points, followed by sophomore Griffin Phillips with 11.
Wrapping up their non-district schedule, the Cubs traveled to Valley Mills and knocked off their Bosque County rival, 54-45, Tuesday. Phillips led Clifton with 17 points as the Cubs outscored the Eagles, 15-4, in the second quarter to take control of the game.
Before the holiday, the Cubs saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end. Despite holding a 43-40 lead going into the final period, Clifton could not keep its winning streak alive as Class 4A Hillsboro rallied to knock off the Cubs, 58-48, Dec. 20 in the Clifton High School Gymnasium.
Photos by DAVID HARDING
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