Dropping a pair of non-league games to open up the 2025-26 season with a new-look roster and coach, the Clifton-Clyde boys basketball team fell to 0-2 for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Versus Sacred Heart, the Eagles fell 68-41.
Sacred Heart opened the game with a 7-0 run, and their scrappy defense was getting to the Eagles early. After finding themselves down 10 halfway through the first quarter, the Eagles finally got a rhythm going and ended the first quarter on a 10-10 match with the Knights, to make it 25-14 to end the quarter.
The Knights kept the game plan into the second quarter, with physical defense throwing off the Eagles, with ball movement and looks from deep building the Sacred Heart advantage as the Eagles searched for a way to get back into the game. The Eagles trailed 44-24 at halftime.
Things continued to not go in the Eagles’ favor in the second half, with the Knights outscoring the Eagles 24-9 in the quarter and clearly in the Eagles’ heads, with multiple errors and physical play not allowing the Eagles to get momentum. The Eagles scored eight points in the fourth to the Knights’ zero, as the Eagles fell 68-41.
Landon Begnoche led in scoring with 17 points, with four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Levi Thrasher had eight points, three rebounds.
Against Republic County, the Eagles fell 37-26.
Scoring seven points in the first, second and third quarters, in a defensive battle, the Eagle offense shot only 17 percent from the floor in the opening game of the season. The Eagles were able to keep the game close by limiting the Buffalo offense in response, but a 12-7 fourth quarter by Republic County put the nail in the coffin, as the Buffaloes were able to pull away late for the victory.
Luke Nobert led in scoring with seven points, Levi Thrasher and Gage LeClair each having five.
