Clyde Bulldogs earn win over Brady after Case's departure as coach
CLYDE — The Clyde boys basketball team looked quite a bit different Tuesday night.
It marked the Bulldogs’ first home game since head coach Marc Case announced he was leaving the team, due to health issues. Clyde Principal Don Heseman stepped into the role and led the Bulldogs to a 58-52 win over Brady.
Case had been away from the team since Friday, when Heseman filled in for Clyde’s road loss against Jim Ned. It became official Tuesday that Case would be permanently leaving his post.
With just three practices and two games since Case’s departure, Heseman was impressed with how the players have responded.
“They’re learning a lot about each other and about me,” Heseman said. “I’m learning a lot, too. “Hopefully we can get to the point where we know each other before it counts.”
Heseman is no stranger to coaching.
The principal previously served as Abilene High's head boys basketball coach for five seasons. He now will act as Clyde's coach for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Heseman already has implemented a different style: Clyde has run a triangle offense its first two games.
The scheme worked against Brady, as Clyde opened the game with a 34-point first half. Heseman credited the student-athletes — and Case — for the quick adjustment.
“I think Coach Case has done a great job of teaching these kids the Xs and Os of what happens when they get double teamed,” Heseman said. “To look for seams and take the seams and creases in the offense.
More: Former Cooper players reunite in Clyde for battle of former coach, teammate
“These kids are so smart that it doesn’t matter. We could do a couple different offenses and they’re going to be able to execute because they’re so sharp.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs have run a full-court press in the past two games. With several impressive athletes, Brady was able to penetrate and keep up with Clyde’s pace for most of the game.
Heseman sees the system as beneficial for his athletes’ endurance.
“We are just trying to get in better shape right now,” Heseman said. “As we continue to get in better shape, it will just continue to get sharper and sharper. It wasn’t bad for learning it two days ago.”
Heading into the fourth quarter Tuesday, Clyde led 48-46. Ranked fifth and sixth in District 6-3A, respectively, both Clyde and Brady needed a win to realistically stay in the playoff race.
Clyde rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs outscored Brady 10-6 in the final eight minutes to clinch the six-point win.
Conner Hawk scored a team-high 15 points, as Landon Yates and Wyatt Cox also reached double figures with 10 apiece.
“I am extremely proud of them,” Heseman said.
Clyde is 16-12 overall, 4-4 in district play.
Like other programs at the school, the boys basketball team is particularly young. Several key players — Hawk, Yates and Blake Carr, among others — are underclassmen.
As these players rise through the program, Heseman thinks the adversity of a midseason coaching change will help them mature as competitors and leaders.
“I think it’s going to stick with the kids,” Heseman said. “When you struggle, there’s growth. I love to see them respond and grow.”
Carson Field is the area sports reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News. He covers primarily Big Country high school sports. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to reporternews.com.
DISTRICT 6-3A BOYS
Clyde 58, Brady 52
Brady … 17 … 18 … 11 … 6 — 52
Clyde … 20 … 14 … 14 … 10 — 58
Clyde (16-12): Conner Hawk 4 6-12 15, Wyatt Cox 4 2-3 10, Landon Yates 4 2-4 10, Evan Laughlin 3 0-0 8, Blake Carr 3 0-0 6, Austin Berry 1 1-2 3, Jarrett Jeffers 1 0-0 2, Seth Lee 0 2-2 2, Garis Gray 0 0-0 0, Jack Huff 0 0-0 0, Creede Jamison 0 0-0 0.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Clyde Bulldogs beat Brady without head coach Marc Case
