Teron Bell was the leader of a balanced attack for the Lake Kennedy Clippers on Tuesday evening, as they defeated Against the Grain 57-45 in the semifinals of the ‘Canned Food’ basketball tournament at Birdsong Recreation Center. Bell scored 17 points for the Clippers, while Frankie Epps knocked in 13 and Clarence Wilson 10. The win pushed the Clippers to the finals of the tournament, which were played late Wednesday evening (results were not available at press time).

After neither team was able to obtain more than a three-point advantage for the first 13 minutes, Wilson and Epps scored two baskets in 23 seconds to give the Clippers a 17-12 lead with 6:36 to play. The Grain fought back, but Bell, Epps and Frank Baylor led their team on a 7-1 run in the last four minutes to end the half ahead 26-17.

The Grain, hurt by a lack of depth on its bench (only five players were on hand), was unable to mount an offensive in the second half, never scoring more than four consecutive points. Meanwhile, the Clipper offense continued to pile on the points, as Bell scored nine of his points in the second half, in which the Clippers held a 31-28 scoring advantage.