In the first rankings of the season, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released its preseason basketball rankings which saw the Clear Lake Lions sitting in the middle at seventh in Class 3A.
With a record of 21-3 in the 2022-23 campaign, the Lions had the second fewest losses in the top 15.
The top three were Esterville-Lincoln Central (24-1), Solon (23-3) and Benton Community (23-4).
Just ahead of Clear Lake was Mount Vernon (16-8) in sixth overall and just behind in eighth is Harlan (14-8).
Waterloo West 52,
Clear Lake 44
The Lions traveled to Waterloo on Saturday, Nov. 18 where they scrimmaged a tough Waterloo West team and came up just short in the teams first live action of the season.
Waterloo West scored 17 in the first quarter to the Lions nine points and again in the second put up double to lead Clear Lake 35-18 at the half.
The second half saw a little more gusto from the Clear Lake offense, with a nearly even third quarter but still behind Waterloo West 12-11. A big push in the fourth quarter closed the gap on a 15-5 quarter in favor of Clear Lake.
Unfortunately, the fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough and the Lions fell. but learned a lot in the first live action against another team.
The Lions hosted Ballard on Tuesday, Nov. 21 in the teams first official contest of the season.
Check next week’s edition of the Mirror Reporter for a full write-up on how that game turned out.
