Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Senior Jack Skocny scored four points in the final 44 seconds to give the Clifton-Clyde High School boys basketball team a 54-50 victory over sixth-ranked Burlingame in the championship game of the Class 1A-Division I sub-state tournament played March 8.
Burlingame tied the game on a basket by 6-5 Drake Skirvin with a minute to play.
Skocny, who led all scorers with 24 points, drew a foul 16 seconds later and knocked down both free throws to give Clifton-Clyde a 52-50 advantage.
With the clock winding down, Burlingame’s Brock Moon was unable to connect on a go-ahead three-point attempt.
Skocny came away with the rebound and was fouled with one second remaining.
Skocny made both free throws to secure the Eagles’ victory.
“We have been there before, done that. We are comfortable with that and we got the job done,” Clifton-Clyde coach Josh Skocny said of coming away with a victory in a close game.
With the win, the Eagles advance to the 1A-Division 1 state tournament being played in Dodge City this week.
Clifton-Clyde (17-6) is seeded seventh in the tournament and is scheduled to play second-seeded Coldwater-South Central (21-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
“South Central is a very good team, has everything that you need,” Josh Skocny said. “We have always thought like we have had to go prove ourselves. There is no difference in this one. We don’t talk about seeds, we just talk about us and them. Our motto at the beginning of the season was ‘don’t compare, compete,’ and we have followed that motto this entire year.”
Jumping out to a 6-2 lead, the Eagles would not trail Burlingame throughout the first half.
Clifton-Clyde was up 14-7 heading into the second quarter.
Skocny and Luke Nobert knocked down three-point shots during a 12-6 spurt to open the second period that pushed the Eagles’ lead to 26-13.
Burlingame pulled within seven points late in the first half.
Skocny hit a three as time expired in the second period to give Clifton-Clyde a 31-21 cushion.
Burlingame scored the first six points of the second half to close the gap to 31-27.
Clifton-Clyde extended the lead to 42-34.
The Bearcats, with a 7-2 run, got within three points, 44-41, going into the final eight minutes of play.
Two free throws by Oliver Nobert gave the Eagles a 46-41 advantage.
Burlingame scored seven straight points to take its only lead of the game, 48-46.
Skocny scored inside to tie the game at 48-48 with 2:40 to play. Moon was unable to connect for the Wildcats, and a bucket by Skocny gave Clifton-Clyde the lead back at 50-48 with 1:35 on the clock.
A basket by Skirvin tied the game again at 50-50.
Skocny then scored the final four points as the Eagles pulled out the win.
Nobert scored eight points for the Eagles.
Skocny grabbed nine rebounds and Kye Chase finished with eight rebounds.
Skirvin led Burlingame with 21 points and Dane Winters added 19 points.
