If its possible to compare basketball to weather, then the Lower Columbia College Red Devils have hit a major storm.

LCC played 40 minutes of drizzly basketball Thursday against South Puget Sound, which resulted in a 65-59 setback to the Clippers in NWAACC Western Division mens basketball on Ted M. Natt Court at Mark Morris.

The loss, the sixth straight setback for the Devils, dropped them to 2-8, 0-1 in league play. The Clippers, who had dropped their last 18 games going back to last season, are now 1-8.

Our team is like crazy weather, LCC coach Jim Roffler said. The sun shines for five minutes, then the clouds come out and its a storm for the next 10 minutes. I can see when the clouds are coming in, but we dont even have enough time to get the lawn furniture in.

The Clippers, who suited six players, trailed 12-7 in the initial eight minutes before scoring 13 unanswered points to grab a 20-12 advantage with 7:30 left. During the Clippers run encompassing six minutes, the Devils missed five shots, two free throws and had five turnovers which were converted into seven of the Clippers points.

We made a lot of bad decisions and fundamental mistakes which kept five guys from working as a unit, Roffler said. Well be a lot tougher and more of a unit and a family if we can get the guys to admit to themselves and their teammates they have a ways to go and quit making excuses.

South Puget Sound, which made 46 percent of its shots in the first half (12-26), rolled to a 29-21 lead at the break.

Rofflers lineups have been a makeshift work in progress all season. Point guard Wayne Tucker is back after missing most of the preseason with a broken foot, but now the Devils are without post players Christian Parrott and JeQuan Knight because of broken hands.

Weve never been a full strength, and it seems like every game we have someone getting back into the mix, Roffler said. How good can you be when youre not clicking on all cylinders.

In the absence of Parrott and Knight, Jeremy Burright stepped into the post and earned praise from Roffler. Burright, who netted two points in the first half, netted 17 in the final 20 minutes to pace the Devils with 19.

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Red Devils can’t stop lowly Clippers