Glenwood City boys drop hoops opener to Clayton

GLENWOOD CITY — The season got off to a somewhat inauspicious start for the Glenwood City boys basketball team.

The Toppers were mauled by the Clayton Bears 65-39 in the season and home opener here Monday evening, November 30.

Senior Brandon Gilbertson helped key the Clayton victory with a game-leading 23 points while fellow senior Cameron Bodsberg and sophomore Kobe Berghammer chipped in 15 and 16 points respectively.

Glenwood City started slowly and trailed 27-12 after the first half of play. Senior Nick Schone was responsible for half of the Toppers’ points in the first 18 minutes of action.

The Toppers picked up its offensive production in the second half as freshman Dillon Hierlmeier scored a trio of three-points shot and finished with a team-high 13 points all of which came in the second half. Sophomore Riley Schutz added 10 points including eight in the second half courtesy of two treys.

But it was not enough as the Bears outpointed the Toppers in the latter half, 38-27, for the 26-point win.

Glenwood City hit six three-point shots compared to Clayton’s four but the Bears held a better than 2-to-1 margin in made two-point field goals. The Bears also sank 10 of 15 foul shots while the Toppers connected on just three of its ten charity tosses.

The Hilltoppers will open conference play Friday, December 4 when it hosts Elk Mound.