Hot hand continues for Clements as Saints prove the masters over Franchise

Jordan Clements is powering Saints’ perfect start in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Basketball Association’s men’s first division, with another dynamic shooting display underpinning a 104-94 victory against Franchise last week.

Clements chalked up a game-high 33 points as the reigning premiers secured a fourth consecutive win that extended his offensive tally from just three games to a division-best 102 points.

He missed the round-two clash against CBC, but two matches later, his return has yielded 65 points.

The teenager’s rapid development follows a big campaign earlier this year as a member of the Goldfields Giants’ men’s first-division squad when he was runner-up for the MVP award.

In July, Clements and younger brother Lachlan spent two weeks in the US under the banner of the AUSA Hoops — the official US tour provider for Basketball Australia Pathways that exposes young players with college ambitions to Amateur Athletic Union basketball.

AAU basketball is the major testing ground for US high school players whose tournaments draw up to 1500 college coaches scouting the best players.

Both youngsters returned with a commitment to put into practice what they had learnt, with Lachlan already scoring 92 points in the domestic season.

Last weekend’s result was Franchise’s fourth defeat to open the season — despite the offensive work of Krish Patel, Maui Dela Cruz and Nick Lawrence, who combined for 71 points.

Also in the round, CBC grabbed a third win, 98-76, against Olympians.

Despite conceding each of the opening three quarters, Olympians showed fighting qualities to square up the last stanza at 21 points each.

Nick Shaw scored 21 points for Olympians, but it was overshadowed by Sam Morrow’s 25 points in the opposition camp.

After just four rounds, Saints and CBC have already driven a wedge between them and the bottom-two.

Saints are a game clear of CBC, whose advantage over third-placed Olympians is two games and percentage.

Fixtures continue on Thursday night, when Olympians oppose Franchise at 7.15pm.

In the women’s first division last weekend, Olympians beat Saints, 83-70.

Ash Sidebottom and Jacinta Yarran combined for 42 points for the winners, and Chloe Zorzi scored 17 points for Saints in a losing effort.

Matches continue on Friday, when Saints oppose CBC at 7.30pm.

Division 1 ladders:

Men:

Saints 12 points; CBC 10; Olympians 6; Franchise 0.

Women:

Olympians 9 points; Saints 5; CBC 2.