SWAT! — Martin County West’s Tanner Sinn (13) swats a shot by Cleveland’s Ben Holden during Valley Conference basketball action Saturday in Sherburn. The Mavericks’ Cash Owens (15) helps out on the play, while the Clippers’ Cameron Seely (left) watches the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

SHERBURN — Martin County West’s Zach Anderson and Mitch Weber combined for a pivotal 10-2 run midway through the second half of Saturday’s basketball season-opener, but Isaac Mueller answered the challenge for Cleveland down the stretch.

Mueller dialed long distance for a clutch 3-pointer before delivering a steal-turned-layup in the Valley Conference clash to restore the visiting Clippers’ 10-point lead with 5 minutes remaining in regulation.

Mueller produced solid all-around numbers of 15 points and six rebounds to complement game-highs of six assists and five steals, while teammate Ben Holden neared double-double territory to sail the Clippers past the Mavericks, 55-41, in Sherburn.

“(Point guard) Christian (Bachenberg) kept us in the game by scoring 13 of our 25 points in the first half, but we just couldn’t seem to recover from being down 10-0 from the opening tipoff,” said Martin County West head coach Cliff Anderson.

Elijah Sullivan’s driving scoop, Eric Rohlfing’s low-post leaner off Alex McCabe’s touch pass, Holden’s hook shot in the paint and two free throws, and Rohlfing’s cutter in traffic built an initial double-digit lead for Cleveland before Zach Anderson ended MCW’s drought with two charity tosses with 14:22 left in the first half.

Trailing 16-9, Bachenberg drilled back-to-back 3-pointers off assists from Tanner Sinn and Weber, respectively, to whittle the Mavericks’ deficit to one with 8 minutes to go in the opening half.

Bolden, who produced a game-high 21 points to complement nine boards, and Mueller then combined for 13 of the Clippers’ ensuing 19 points to grab a 35-25 lead by intermission. Bolden hit a pair of low-post baskets before stepping behind the arc for a trifecta with 1 minute left before halftime, while Mueller connected on two 3s during the final 5 minutes of the first half.

“I thought we made a nice run to get within five during the early stages of the second half, but we couldn’t get any closer than that,” said Cliff Anderson.

Down 40-29, Zach Anderson used a cross-over drive in the lane to trigger the Mavericks’ comeback bid before Holden answered with a putback basket at the opposite end.

Weber, who was scoreless in the opening half, tossed in a runner in traffic before pocketing a steal for a clutch defensive stop for MCW. Anderson spotted Weber for a 3 from the top of the key before the two traded roles, and Anderson knocked down a trey off one of Weber’s four assists.

Clinging to a 42-37 lead with 6 minutes remaining in regulation, Mueller swooshed a top-of-the-key 3 before converting a steal into a gliding lay-in. Tanner Sinn hit a putback for the Mavericks a minute and a half later, but Holden’s second 3 of the game left little doubt about the final outcome.

Bachenberg and Zach Anderson topped the Mavericks with 13 points apiece, with Anderson completing a double-double by pulling down a game-best 10 rebounds. Bachenberg added three steals and six boards.

Sinn netted 10 points, six rebounds and a team-high four steals for MCW, while Weber chipped in five points and four assists.

Rohlfing closed with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Clippers, while Sullivan collected four points, six caroms, three steals and three assists.

Martin County West (0-1) travels to St. Clair on Thursday night for another conference game, while Cleveland (1-0) plays host to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Thursday night.

CLEV 35-20–55

MCW 25-16–41

MCW (41)

Sinn 5-12 0-2 10, Anderson 5-8 2-4 13, Runkle 0-2 0-0 0, Weber 2-12 0-0 5, Bachenberg 5-10 0-0 13, Owens 0-0 0-0 0, Leiding 0-2 0-0 0, Finke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-47 2-6 41.

CLEVELAND (55)

Holden 8-14 3-4 21, Rohlfing 6-14 0-2 13, Mueller 5-11 2-2 15, McCabe 0-0 0-0 0, Sullivan 2-10 0-0 4, Seely 1-1 0-0 2, Meyer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 5-8 55.

3-pointers: MCW 5-23 (Bachenberg 3-6, Anderson 1-4, Weber 1-7, Sinn 0-1, Runkle 0-2, Leiding 0-2, Finke 0-1); Cleveland 6-20 (Mueller 3-6, Holden 2-4, Rohlfing 1-5, Sullivan 0-3, Meyer 0-2). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Cleveland 31 (Holden 9); MCW 30 (Anderson 10). Assists: Cleveland 13 (Mueller 6, Sullivan 3); MCW (Weber 4). Steals: Cleveland 15 (Mueller 5, Rohlfing 4); MCW 11 (Sinn 4, Bachenberg 3).

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Truman/Martin Luther/GHEC 45, Mankato Loyola 43 — Adam Heckman hit the game-winning field goal in the waning seconds to lift the Jaguars to a two-point Valley Conference victory over the Crusaders during season-opening action Saturday night in Mankato.

Adam Heckman finished with team-bests of 15 points and eight rebounds for the purple-and-black, while Matt Heckman connected on two 3-pointers to pace his 11-point performance.

Cael Jaskulke supplied seven points and four boards for the Jaguars, Jakob Fischer netted six points and four rebounds, while Owen Wolter scored four points and distributed four assists.

Louis Bowers doled out four assists for the Jaguars, who scorched the nets on 13-for-19 shooting — 68.4% from 2-point range.

The Jaguars also connected on 4 of 13 attempts from 3-point range and sank 7 of 14 free throws.

The Jaguars (1-0) play host to Blue Earth Area at 6 p.m. tonight in Truman.