Clinton Prairie continues dream season, reaches first IHSAA boys basketball final
LAFAYETTE — Clinton Prairie senior Jake McGraw took the responsibility bestowed upon him as the Gophers' star and ran with it.
A slow start once again for McGraw who scored a fair but slight handful six points in the first half.
With history at stake, McGraw took charge and steered Clinton Prairie to its final destination as it overpowered Kouts 73-59 in the IHSAA Class 1A Semi-state title game — and captured its first trip to the IHSAA state finals.
The decibel level grew louder with each Clinton Prairie bucket led by McGraw who finished with 24 points, including 18 in the second half. McGraw was held to six points in the first 16 minutes and Clinton Prairie trailed 32-31 at halftime.
McGraw got more aggressive, displaying his post moves and jumper. Kouts had no answers.
"The best teams are player led," McGraw said.
Senior Alex Farley scored 16 points and junior Nick Curtin led with 14 points for Clinton Prairie (26-2) which plays Orleans (24-4) in the IHSAA Class 1A state championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 29.
McGraw overcame a technical foul he received with 6:21 to play in the third quarter after scoring a layup. He claimed to have yelled 'and one' which drew the ire of the officials. McGraw believes his outburst increased the intensity of his team.
"We needed that because my team wasn't playing that hard," McGraw said. "We were playing kind of soft and I was too on defense. I didn't want the tech but it boosted our team to play even harder."
Farley last year was at home having played last year in Frankfort. This year he's been a difference maker and found his offensive rhythm, spotted up from midrange and shot 6-of-13 from the field.
A big smile ran over Farley's face as he wore a bleached haircut with Curtin. Farley said his mom isn't a fan but he believes it allowed him to play with more freedom and swagger.
"I've just been wanting to do it for a long time, so why not do it now," Farley said.
Kouts (24-5), led by junior point guard Lucas Kleckner, didn't make it easy.
Kleckner scored 27 points including 17 points in the first half and shot 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
Kleckner's change of speed and use of angles attacking helped shield away Clinton Prairie's bigger defenders but Clinton Prairie managed to qualm the 5-foot-9 point guard's outburst in the second half.
Clinton Prairie coach Chad Peckinpaugh remained calm and in the moment through the game. But a smile took over as the seconds waned down. He sat with his eyes closed, sipped an orange Powerade and soaked in the moment.
Peckinpaugh surpassed 100 wins in his sixth season this year.
Now he stands one win from becoming the first coach in his family to win a state title. His father Rick came close with McCutcheon reaching the state final in 2016 while his cousin John Peckinpaugh, at Kokomo, made the state final in 2023.
Chad becomes the third Peckinpaugh in nine years to reach a state championship and could be the first to win a state ring next Saturday.
"I'm just so happy for these kids all the work they put in and their fight," Peckinpaugh said. "It was not an easy day by the stretch of the imagination but their will and want to was beyond impressive."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Clinton Prairie boys basketball advances to IHSAA Class 1A state final
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