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Senior Dakota Klemptner (1) goes up for a layup during the Bears' Area playoff game against Perrin-Whitt Friday. In what turned out to be his final high school basketball game, he scored 14 points in the Bears' 6531 loss. Photo by DJ Spencer
SB’s season comes to an end
CELINA — The Sulphur Bluff Bears had their season come to a bitter end Friday, as they fell 65-31 to the No. 5 Perrin-Whitt Pirates in their Area playoff game at Celina High School. Over the course of the game, the Bears were outplayed at most opportunities and could never establish any rhythm, leading to a heartbreaking end to their season.
The first quarter started off with the Pirates making a two-pointer. Soon after, Ayden Johnson made a two-pointer, tying the score at 2-2.
The Pirates then answered with a pair of two-pointers, pulling ahead 6-2. Another two-pointer by Ayden Johnson trimmed the deficit to 6-4.
Following a pair of free throws by the Pirates, Clint Degen made a free throw to cut the score to 8-5. This would be followed by a two-pointer and three-pointer from the Pirates, as they extended their lead to 13-5.
After Ayden Johnson made another two-pointer, the Pirates closed out the first quarter with a two-pointer, extending their lead to 15-7.
The second quarter opened with the Pirates scoring on three two-pointers, helping them extend their lead to 21-7. The Bears then got on the board again when Dakota Klemptner sank a three-pointer, bringing the score to 21-10.
After the Pirates made a three-pointer, Degen scored on a two-pointer and three-pointer, trimming the score to 24-18. From there, the Pirates would close out the second quarter with a two-pointer and a pair of free throws, extending their lead to 2815 going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, third quarter started off with the Pirates sinking a three-pointer. Soon after, Klempter drilled a three-pointer, bringing the score to 31-18.
Following a pair of free throws by the Pirates, Klemptner drilled another three-pointer, bringing the score to 3321. After that, the Pirates went on a tear, scoring 13 consecutive points to increase their lead to 46-21.
Klempter closed out the third quarter with a two-pointer, with the Pirates still on top 46-23.
The fourth quarter started with a pair of free throws by Pirates. This was followed by Matthew Overly making a two-pointer, bringing the score to 48-25.
After a Pirates two-pointer, a three-pointer by Klemptner trimmed the score to 50-28. The Pirates then answered with a three-pointer and a pair of two-pointers, raising the score to 57-28.
Following a three-pointer by Marshall Johnson, the Pirates closed out the game with eight unanswered points, handing the Bears a 65-31 loss.
Klemptner finished as the Bears’ leading scorer with 14 points. Degen and Ayden Johnson both scored six points each. Rounding out the scoring was Marshall Johnson with three and Overly with two.
With the loss, the Bears’ season has come to an end. They finish the year with an overall record of 27-10, finishing as District champions, Bi-District champions, and Area finalists.
This would also mark the final high school basketball game for eight Sulphur Bluff seniors: Degen, Brody Gunn, Marshall Johnson, Klemptner, Ty LeMond, Overly, Jonathan Ramos, and Kaleb White.
The Bears will look to improve in the off-season and make a deeper playoff run next year.