Clifton-Clyde falls short against Olpe, 58-50

COLBY — Junior Jack Skocny did what he could to keep Clifton-Clyde in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome cold outside shooting and the offensive balance of Olpe.
Skocny made 11 of 15 field goal attempts and five of seven free throws in scoring 28 points for Clifton-Clyde against Olpe in the opening round game of the Class 1A-Division I state tournament, played March 6 at the Colby Event Center. He also pulled down seven rebounds.
Clifton-Clyde missed on its first 16 three-point attempts in the game and Olpe had three players score in double figures on its way to posting a 58-50 victory.
Despite the struggles from three-point range, Clifton-Clyde made a run in the fourth quarter, cutting an 11-point deficit to just three points, but was unable to overtake Olpe.
Clifton-Clyde finished the season 20-4.
Olpe, which won the state title in 2021 and 2022, led Clifton-Clyde, 40-29, heading into the final period.
Skocny scored eight points during a 10-2 Clifton-Clyde run that made it a 43-39 game with 4:30 to play.
Two free throws by Blake Skalsky gave Olpe a 44-39 advantage.
Drayden Reed scored on a drive and Clifton-Clyde came up with a steal.
Coy Steinbrock, the leading three-point shooter for Clifton-Clyde, missed on a shot to tie the game.
Skalsky scored inside, and Olpe led 46-41 with 2:24 on the clock.
Olpe then came up with a steal, and Brecken McQuire made one of two free throws to give Olpe a 48-41 advantage with 1:50 to play.
Trent Long scored, and Clifton-Clyde trailed 48-43.
Skalsky completed a three-point play to give Olpe a 51-43 advantage with 1:18 remaining.
Skocny connected on Clifton-Clyde's first three of the game, 11 seconds later, to cut the deficit to five points, 51-46.
McQuire missed two free throws for Olpe, but Skocny returned the favor made, missing on two attempts from the line with 52 seconds left.
Olpe made three of six free throws over the next 27 seconds to secure the win.
Reed scored nine points for Clifton-Clyde and Long added seven.
Skalsky led Olpe with 18 points.
McQuire scored 13 points and Abbott Bailey added 12 points.
Clifton-Clyde led the game, 11-10, after one quarter of play.
Olpe opened the second period with a 12-3 spurt to take a 22-14 lead.
Skocny scored in the final seconds of the first half to make it 22-16.
Olpe stretched the lead to 11 points in the third quarter.
Clifton-Clyde then battled back to within three points in the final stanza but couldn't wrestle the lead away from Olpe.
Olpe lost to eventual champion Montezuma-South Gray, 68-62, in the semifinals and then defeated Quinter, 46-32, in the third-place game.
South Gray downed Bishop Seabury Academy 76-63 in the championship game.