When the Claremont High School boys basketball team was good Tuesday night they were very good. Unfortunately, at times, they also went to pieces.

After leading for most of the first half and showing some very good organization, the boys seemed to stumble late and lost their first non-conference game to visiting Canyon Springs, 65-59.

Sophomore point guard Kyle Scalmanini, who scored 26 points and had 9 rebounds, anchored the good for the Pack. Junior Harlan Maass was the second highest scorer with 11 points, followed by sophomore Tyler Risher, who had seven points but also came away with seven rebounds.

The Wolfpack’s field goal percentage, hitting the net only 17 times out of 44 shots, was definitely where they fell short. It seemed at times that even the easiest shots failed to land, and they attempted a lot of three-point shots that missed.

Part of what kept Claremont in the game were Canyon Springs seemingly constant fouls and Scalmanini was there to capitalize sinking 11 of 13 free throws, a team-high.

The Wolfpack came out strong and led by seven points early, but turnovers as well as a few great plays from the Cougars erased that lead and the teams were tied at 16 at the end of the first quarter.

Canyon Springs had their first lead in the second quarter, but Claremont kept with them and was up by three at the half.

The rest of the game Canyon Springs set the momentum, outscoring the Pack 30-21, setting up the eventual victory. However, Claremont almost pulled off a win. With less than a minute in the fourth quarter, Claremont trailed by one, but had the ball. Unfortunately, the team could not capitalize and the Cougars quickly scored and then made several free throws, dashing any hopes of a comeback.

“We are a young team. I have eight sophomores,” Coach Stan Toliver said after the game. “We are good in streaks and we are young in streaks.”

Coach Toliver noted that the Cougars had a better game on the glass and took advantage of second chances, but he is looking forward to the upcoming season.

“We need to get some games under our belt. Then we will be ready for league,” he said.

CHS cross country closes out CIF season at state championships

Claremont varsity boys placed fifth with a team score of 170 in a crowed pack on Saturday during the CIF State Division 2 Championships.

The Pack was led by three seniors: Mike Lowrie who placed 12th at 15:25 at a pace of 4:58 per mile, followed closely by Adam Johnson, who placed 15th at 15:31, and Dylan Powers, who rounded out the top three with a 56th place at 16:02. Claremont narrowly beat West Torrance, which had a score of 173, and Westview with a score of 176.

The girls came in seventh with a team score of 259 led by sophomore Jax Heckers in 38th place at 18:48, followed by freshman Tess Rounds in 52nd place at 18:59, and junior Kiana Cavanaugh in 58th place at 19:06.

On Wednesday night, Claremont was honored with four  awards at the 2014 San Gabriel Valley Cross Country Awards at Mount San Antonio College. The Wolfpack was awarded the girls and boys coach of the year for the entire coaching staff as well as boys and girls team of the year.

Several runners were also named to the girls first team including Julia Cantrell, Kiana Cavanaugh, Annie Boos, Jax Heckers, Alex Gushue and Tess Rounds Bess Markley.

Runners named to the boys first team included Mike Lowrie, Adam Johnson, Jonah Ross, Tom Englebert, Johan Evans and Ryan Renken.

—Steven Felschundneff

sports@claremont-courier.com