Clinton Prairie Falls Short In Title Bid

   One way or another a first-time state champion was going to be crowned on Saturday morning inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. By the final horn, that honor went to the fourth-ranked Orleans Bulldogs, who defeated the third-ranked Clinton Prairie Gophers, 64-55, for the Class 1A state title during the 115th annual Indiana High School Athletic Association’s boys’ basketball State Finals. Against Clinton Prairie (26-3), the Bulldogs were resilient, battling through six ties and four lead changes.  Late in the game Clinton Prairie cut the deficit 53-50 with 2:36 remaining, but Orleans went 5-for-7 from the free-throw line the rest of the way along with key buckets to seal the win. In his final game as a Gopher, Jake McGraw had a team-high 23 points and seven rebounds for Clinton Prairie.