The Cooperstown boys basketball team’s second half shooting was the latter as they mustered just 21 second half points in a 56-50 loss to Clinton in the championship game of the 25th annual Cooperstown Holiday Tournament last Thursday.

The Redskins went 0-12 from the three-point line in the second half, and hit just 4-14 free throws in the game, which they led 29-28 at the half.

Ironically, Cooperstown hit three straight three-point shots, including two from Luke Banner, during a 9-0 first half run that gave them their biggest lead of the game, 25-16. But Clinton, who defeated South Lewis in the first round Wednesday, ended the half on a 12-4 run.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Brett Fuller, a sophomore guard, scored 10 of his game and career-high 18 points in the first half, and then hit four of five free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Clinton was playing without its leading scorer, A.J. Krupper, who sprained an ankle during the first round win and was unable to play Thursday.

``I told the team before the game that someone needed to step up, and Brett decided to be that guy,’’ said Clinton head coach James Ryan. ``He’s a very tough kid. If I had 12 guys like him, I’d be a happy coach.’’

All-tournament team selection Chris Gentile (14 points) hit two driving lay-ups in the third quarter to give Cooperstown a 36-33 lead. Clinton led 40-39 at the end of three quarters, and the teams traded baskets early in the fourth quarter, with CCS senior Jimmy Jennings tying the score at 43-43 with 6:30 remaining in the game. [an error occurred while processing this directive]