Cisne runs record to 7-1 with homecoming win
Three Lions score double-figures in 55-35 victory; Cisne improved to 3-0 in MTC

12-06-12
BY JACK BULLOCK
CISNE
– On the eve of the team's homecoming, the Cisne Lions took a few minutes to get focused on the task at hand; a Thursday night Midland Trail Conference game against rival Clay City.

But once the lucidity of the moment materialized, Coach Adam Ellis' squad rolled up their collective sleeves to produce a workman-like 55-35 win in front of a pack home-court crowd.

The Lions improved to 3-0 in the MTC, which is tops in the league, while now sporting a 7-1 overall mark.

Three playmakers for the Lions, the ones that this coach will lean on for the rest of the season, came up big in the triumph.

Leading scorer Austin Atteberry, a 6-foot senior guard, netted a game-best 18-points while his brother Dustin Atteberry, a 6-foot-1 senior, added 11.

But the big stat from the night came from 6-foot-7 senior Bjorn Fjermedal.

This foreign exchange student (Norway) isn't a stranger to this game, scoring 10-points while ruling the glass with 10-rebounds.

Erik Powell, a 6-foot senior, chipped in nine points for Cisne.

“That has been our issue this season, getting out of the gate. Actually tonight I thought it was a little better than what is has been the last couple of nights,” said Coach Ellis. “Once we get going we can be pretty smooth. But sometimes we need that little extra fire.”

Clay City saw its record dip to 3-5 on the year under first year head coach Grant Keller.

The scrappy Wolves (1-2 MTC) were topped by Nathan Dulaney with 14-points.

Clay City held its own in the early going, forcing the Lions into five early turnovers.

A 3-pointer by Dylan Wolfe and a fast-break lay in by Dulaney off of a Cisne turnover got the Wolves close at 8-7 Lions with 3:33 remaining in the opening quarter.

However Cisne quickly went on an 11-2 scoring spree, with Austin Atteberry closing the first quarter with a trey from the left wing.

The Lions kept the pressure on to open the second frame.

Senior forward Matt Paul hit a shot on the baseline and Dustin Atteberry grabbed a missed lay up attempt by Powell for a stick-back and a 19-9 advantage.

Clay City, according to Coach Keller, has been in a bad habit of getting into foul trouble and that proved to be the problem for the Wolves on Thursday evening.

CC paraded the Lions to the foul line for most of the contest and Coach Ellis' club took advantage.

“I have preached to these kids over and over that we have to stay out of foul trouble,” said Coach Keller. “We're not a real deep team so we have to stay out of foul trouble and keep kids on the floor. I don't mind aggressive fouls but in certain situations we swiped at some balls that we shouldn't have. They (Cisne) capitalized on their free throws.”

Austin Atteberry got to the line three separate times, and the senior hit 5-of-6 from the stripe to push the Cisne lead to 26-12.

Dulaney was one of the bright spots for Clay City. He closed the first half by converting a conventional three-point play to make it 26-15 at intermission.

Cisne gradually pulled away in the second half, due mostly to Fjermedal, who scored eight of his ten points in the third quarter.

Twice in the frame Fjermedal grabbed rebounds and took off for coast-to-coast drives.

His second score pushed the lead to 37-19 with 2:02 left.

A Fjermedal offensive rebound bucket and two more free throws by Austin Atteberry made it 41-24 heading to the fourth quarter.

A 10-0 Cisne scoring romp ended the drama to open the final countdown.

Dustin, Fjermedal and Powell all scored in the run.

When Dustin nailed a 18-footer from the right wing on an inbounds pass, Cisne had its biggest lead at 51-24.

After a drive to the basket by Austin on a nice pass by Powell made the score 55-26, Coach Ellis called off the dogs on the Wolves.

Cisne was 16-of-34 on its two-point attempts while hitting just 2-of-7 from behind the arc, good for 18-of-41 overall (43.9 percent).

More importantly, a key to the victory, was the Lions nailing 17-of-23 charities (73.9 percent).

Clay City hit just 15-of-42 overall (35.7 percent) and 3-of-11 from downtown.

“We have to value each and every possession, especially against good teams like Cisne,” added Coach Keller. “We forced the issue way too much tonight. We need to know that there are times to push the ball and times to slow down and be deliberate with the offense.”

Behind Fjermedal the Lions controlled the boards (29-20) and Austin Atteberry added five steals to the Clay City turnover problems. The Wolves finished with 16-miscues.

“He (Fjermedal) is a double-double guy (points and rebounds) and he is very aggressive going after rebounds,” added Coach Ellis. “The rebounding effort has been great all year.”

Cisne had 18-turnovers, with five early as they struggled to get going and five in the final minutes by reserves after the outcome had already been decided.

“I have no complaints about our defense tonight,” finalized Coach Ellis. “I thought we took away their strengths tonight. We knew the guys that could hurt us and we knew who we could sag off of. We did a good job of helping. We knew that they (Clay City) had a nice team and those kids have played varsity for a lot of years. We knew that if we came in and fell asleep that they could sneak up on us. We are happy with that effort.”

Both teams will see their next action at the Conrad Allen Wayne City Holiday Tournament which opens up on Saturday.

Clay City will face Patoka on Saturday at 11:30 am while Cisne, one of the tournament favorites, will face Zeigler-Royalton Monday night at 7:00 pm.

1
2
3
4
-
F
Clay City
09
06
09
11
-
35
Cisne
15
11
15
14
-
55

Clay City (35) – E. Brown 0 0 0-2 0, J. Brown 1 1 0-0 5, Dulaney 5 1 1-1 14,Wolfe 0 1 0-2 3, Kessler 0 0 1-2 1, Ausbrook 4 0 0-0 8, Prosser 1 0 0-0 2, Pittman 1 0 0-0 2, Linder 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-12, 3FG-3, FT-2-7, PF-18.

Cisne (55) – A. Atteberry 4 0 10-12 18, Powell 1 1 4-5 9, D. Atteberry 4 1 0-1 11, Matthews 0 0 1-2 1, Paul 2 0 2-2 6, Fjermedal 5 0 0-1 10, Hosick 0 0 0-0 0, Conard 0 0 0-0 0, Thompson 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-16, 3FG-2, FT-17-23, PF-11.

Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.