Clayton Boys End MICDS Season

The third time was not the charm Wednesday night for the MICDS boys basketball team.

The Rams lost for the third time this season to Clayton and this 60-51 loss ended the MICDS season as it occured in the semifinals of the Class 3 District 6 Tournament at Clayton.

"We wanted to keep it close in the fourth quarter," MICDS coach Matt Hixenbaugh said. "We were able to do that but they made more plays down the stretch than we did. I thought we played hard all night, if not smart all night."

MICDS never led in the game although it came within two points several times in the second half.

"I think they had four possessions with the game at two points and they scored every time," Hixenbaugh said. "We would make a big play and they always seemed to have an answer."

Clayton, which defeated MICDS 64-53 on Dec. 15 and 82-72 on Dec. 28, jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead Wednesday night. MICDS did not score a point for the first five and a half minutes of the game and the Greyhounds seemed in control with a 27-15 halftime advantage.

"I just told the guys at halftime that we needed to play hard on every possession and I thought we did that," Hixenbaugh said. "I have no regrets at all."

It took the Rams just four minutes to cut the 12 point halftime deficit to two as Thomas Militello scored seven points in the first two minutes of the third quarter and Rashad Lindsey had seven third quarter points.

MICDS scored 25 points in the third quarter and continued the hot streak in the first minute of the fourth quarter as Militello and Lindsey each hit 3-pointers. MICDS trailed 48-46 with seven minutes to play but could score just five points the rest of the way.

"We felt confident coming into the game," Militello said. "We watched five of their game tapes and I thought we had the advantage of playing in the first round. We tried to rally around the seniors at halftime and made a good run. We went down swinging."

Gary Russo was the only senior to play for the Rams Wednesday night.

"I felt it was a great game tonight and this was a great team," Russo said. "I will miss every one of them. It is like a family when you are with a group for 80 days and 25 games and 50 practices. I thought we played hard and represented ourselves well."

The future does appear bright for the Rams.

"(Freshmen) Rashad (Lindsey) and Robin (Thompson) are going to be studs if they continue to work hard," Russo said. "Coach Hix has the program headed in the right direction."

Lindsey finished with 19 points and Militello added 12 for the Rams, who finished with a 13-12 overall record.

Ahmad Smith had 22 points to pace the Greyhounds, who improved to 21-6.