MORGANTOWN – Clay-Battelle boys basketball head coach Josh Kisner enjoyed two things his team did above all others against Notre Dame on Monday in Blacksville, as the Cee-Bees picked up a 47-41 victory in their home opener.
Led by senior big man Preston Luzader’s effort of 25 points and 20 rebounds, Kisner’s group outlasted the Fighting Irish behind a strong defensive effort in the second half and by cleaning the glass to the tune of 39 rebounds, 13 of which came on the offensive end.
The Cee-Bees (2-0) held a two-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter before holding Notre Dame to only seven points in the final eight minutes to secure the win and remain unbeaten early in the season.
“Give a ton of credit to Notre Dame for their effort,” Kisner said. “They started well on offense, and we had to adjust a few things defensively to make up for it. I thought our guys gave a great effort in defensive rebounding. They were taking some deep shots, and we did well to deny them second chances and hold them to one possession most of the time. We have a goal this year of outrebounding our opponents by ten or more every game.”
Notre Dame (0-2) opened the game with a 10-4 advantage midway through the opening quarter. That lead grew to 16-9 as the Fighting Irish made four of their ten threes in the contest in the first frame.
The Cee-Bees switched up their defensive look 90 seconds into the second quarter, applying a three-quarter court press that disrupted the flow of the Notre Dame offense.
The effort allowed the hosts to open a 7-2 run, cutting the ND lead to two points, 18-16. The two teams would then trade runs to close the first half.
Notre Dame turned multiple defensive stops into baskets to pull ahead 21-16 with 3:15 to play until the break. But the Cee-Bees wouldn’t allow the visitors to score again before halftime, going on an 8-0 run across the final three minutes.
Cooper Peyton and Kaden Moats each nailed a three before Luzader finished the run with a jumper to end the half.
“We wanted to make them do something a little different as opposed to coming down and getting right into their offense,” Kisner said of his thinking behind applying the press in the second quarter. “I like to mix things up anyway, but especially when they have shooters who are hitting shots, you have to match up on them and try and make them move the ball more.”
Notre Dame added another triple to tie the game at 24 at the beginning of the second half. Both teams went on scoring runs in the third but a jumper by C-B senior Josiah Morgan gave his team a 36-34 lead heading to the fourth.
Baskets were traded to begin the final frame, putting the Cee-Bees ahead 38-36 with six minutes to go.
The following points didn’t come until nearly four minutes later, as Peyton knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:30 left in the game.
Luzader followed him with two more free throws at the line, and the Cee-Bees made the defensive stops down the stretch to secure the victory.
Clay-Battelle will return home on Wednesday evening to host Madonna.
BOX SCORE
Notre Dame 16 5 13 7 – 41
Clay-Battelle 9 15 12 11 – 47
Notre Dame (0-2) – Posey 3 0-0 8 Minnocci 3 0-2 8 Ramsey 1 0-0 2 Bombardiere1 0-0 3 Helmick 2 1-2 5 Minnocci 3 0-0 9 Kasyder 1 0-0 3 Garnek 1 0-0 3
Clay-Battelle (2-0) – Luzader 7 11-13 25 Peyton 3 3-5 11 Morgan 2 0-0 4 Ponceroff 2 0-0 4 Moats 1 0-0 3
3pt goals made – Notre Dame 10 (Minnocci 3 Minnocci 2 Posey 2 Bombardiere 1 Kasyder 1 Garnek 1); Clay-Battelle 3 (Peyton 2 Moats 1)
