Notre Dame vs Clay 01-18-11

[rockyraccoon]

Clay coming off wins over SV, Eastern, Green and East. ND coming off a win over Coal Grove and Western. Should be a good match, and always fun watching the student sections. Who do you see taking this first match between these two rivals.

[CharlieHustle]

Should be a great game to watch. I think the winning margin will be 5 pts or lower for whatever team wins.

[claypantherfan]

I am thinking the way clay is playing this will be a double digit win 12 plus

[BlindWhiteHat]

Basketball is a game of matchups and I wouldn't be surprised to see PND win this because they match up with Clay better than most.

[sportsfan se]

Matt Mader does a great job with the kids at ND, excellent b-ball coach. But i still think they're a year away from the tough "road" wins.Keep up the great work coach, your times right around the corner. Gotta take Clay, home court and experience. Will be close !!

[rockyraccoon]

I agree SF, Notre Dame is about where Clay was last year, or even two years ago. Lots of younger talent and will be tough in the next year or two, but this will be a tough match up for them. Clay has been playing good team ball, and after their close call with East, I expect them to come out strong and make a statement early.

[halftime]

It's always a close game between these two rivals. Such great atmosphere when these two teams match up. Going to be a great game but like RR said Clay will be coming out to make a statement in this one I'll take Clay by as much as 10.

[rockyraccoon]

CLAY 13 13 14 10 50
N. D. 5 7 11 8 31

Clay jumped out early and never looked back. 13 to 5 in the first quarter. They built the lead to 26 - 7 before ND hit and three and a lay-up to cut it to 26 - 12 at halftime. ND pulled to 11 with a three to start the third but Clay stretched it back out to 36 - 19 near the end of the third quarter. With a 46 - 23 lead, Clay goes into the slowdown, or as we call it in close games, the death weave. They bring in the subs, who have seen no playing time at all this year at the 5:00 minute mark with the score 50 - 25 and they never take a shot. I don't see how that is getting your 5 juniors ready for next year. It's good that they killed the clock, but at 50 - 25 that wasn't really an issue.
Clay had very balanced scoring again with 11, 10, 10, 9, 8 and 2. ND just stuggled bringing the ball up court and trying to find an opening in Clay's zone.

[BALZAC]

ND appeared to have left their game plan in the locker room.

[rockyraccoon]

Also worthy of mention was Clay's JV game in which they were down almost the entire game. ND was up 28 to 17 with about 2 minutes left when Clay turned up the pressure, forced several turnovers and sophomore Zach Jackson hit the first of his two game tying 3 pointers. The first one with 7 seconds left in the contest, tying the score 29 - 29. The second from about 22 feet out with a man in his face to tie the game at the end of the first OT. Clay won in the 2nd OT by around 6 points. I think it was about 44 to 38 final.

[countyhobo]

Clay boys came prepared and ready to play with emotion, ND didn't. You can have Pat Riley coaching and if the players don't put forth an effort and quit playing when one little thing goes wrong you are not going to win. The game plan didn't even make it to the Clay locker room. Clay should make it far in the playoffs.