CLARKSVILLE — The dream of an undefeated season for the Clarksville boys’ basketball squad was left on the gymnasium floor as the hosts dropped a hard-fought contest to No. 9 3A Brownstown, 66-62.
“I told the guys, ‘The glass slipper is off boys,’” Clarksville coach Jason Connell said. “Sometimes that’s good. It’s over with. I’ve said this all season — if I would have thought we’d be 14-1 right now, I’d be thrilled. Hats off to Brownstown.”
The Class 2A No. 7 Generals (14-1, 6-1 Mid-Southern Conference) committed two key turnovers inside the final 90 seconds that led to Brownstown baskets while the game was still in question. But they battled until the final buzzer, when sophomore guard Calvin McEwen nailed a three-pointer to account for the 66-62 score.
There were four ties and two lead changes in the first quarter. Jalen Snodgrass opened the contest with a three-pointer for Brownstown and notched back-to-back baskets late for the Braves, who led at the end of the first frame, 14-12.
The Braves extended the lead to 21-15 with 4:34 remaining when Trey DeHart found Snodgrass on a backdoor cut for an easy layup under the Brownstown basket. Immediately after that play, Connell called a timeout, unhappy with that defensive breakdown.
And the Generals responded.
Following the break, Billy Edelen nailed a 3-pointer for Clarksville to bring the Generals to within three.
The 6’2 senior — who scored 10 points within a span of about three minutes in the second quarter — nailed another 3-pointer with a minute left in the first half to give Clarksville a 26-23 lead. A short jumper from Brownstown center Skylar Thompson narrowed the margin to 26-25 on Brownstown’s next possession. Jake Hartlage’s three-point attempt at the first-half buzzer was long, and Clarksville carried the one-point lead into intermission.
The game continued to see-saw throughout the third and fourth quarters, but the Braves (15-1, 7-1 Mid-Southern Conference) opened up some breathing room late in the fourth quarter. Snodgrass sank two free throws and then found Tanner Payton beneath the basket for a layup with 1:24 left in the contest to give the visitors a 59-52 lead.
Aidan McEwen, who added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Generals, then came up with a steal at midcourt and a basket, and Edelen followed with another three-pointer to bring Clarksville to within two, 59-57, with 41.2 seconds remaining. Two more Snodgrass free-throws upped the lead back to four, and the hosts never got closer.
Snodgrass, a 5-10 senior guard, did his best Jimmy Chitwood impression against the Generals, scoring 36 points, going 10-of-17 from the field and sinking 13-of-15 free-throws.
“He’s a great player,” Connell said.
Brownstown coach David Benter credited the Generals for the close contest and praised the play of Edelen and Aidan McEwen. Edelen led the Generals with 18 points.
“Edelen is a problem for teams because he’s so physically strong and quick with the basketball,” he said. “McEwen is 6-2, and he is relentless going to the basket — he’s so strong and competitive that he’s a nightmare to guard.”
Despite the loss, Connell implored his squad to keep their heads up, and said the Generals had a lot to look ahead to. With conference games left against Salem and North Harrison, the Generals could still tie Brownstown for the conference crown.
“I thought we played hard. You don’t want to ever lose, but we’re going to regroup,” Connell said. “I think this is going to light a fire under us. We’ll come back.”
The Generals’ next matchup comes Wednesday night, when they host Trinity Lutheran.
BROWNSTOWN 14 11 20 21—66
CLARKSVILLE 12 14 17 19—62
Brownstown (15-1, 7-1) — DeHart 1, Snodgrass 36, McCrory 12, Payton 9, Thompson 6, Klinge 2, Toppe 0, Wischmeier 0, Schnieder 0.
Clarksville (14-0, 6-1) — C. McEwen 9, Hartlage 8, Johnson 4, Rittman 8, A. McEwen 15, Edelen 18, Noe.
Rebounds — Brownstown 25 (McCrory, Thompson, Payton 5); Clarksville 24 (A. McEwen 8).
3-point field goals — Brownstown 5 (Snodgrass 3, McCrory 2); Clarksville 5 (C. McEwen, Edelen 4).
Free throws — Brownstown 19-26; Clarksville 13-15.
Turnovers — Brownstown 11; Clarksville 12.
