Greta Hahn (above) plopped in four threes in the first half to put the Clippers up by 17 at the break, host Madelia came out strong in the second half and narrowed their deficit to 10, but the Clippers said enough is enough and downed the Blackhawks 68-42 on Thursday for their first win this season.
Hahn rallied the Clippers, who were coming off an ugly defeat at Alden two days earlier, with 18 points with a dozen of them coming from behind the arc.
“It feels good to win,” said the senior guard.
With 24 points, 6-2 junior Katherine DeVlaeminck was the Blackhawks’ top scorer. The Clippers worked to keep an up tempo to slow her down and also ganged up on her when she moved inside.
“From last game to this game, we were able to adjust,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “I felt like the last game we were just trying to get things done, but in this game we were responding a ton better with the help defense, especially in the second half.”
Madelia posted the first four points, but Greta Hahn scored on a layup, Lacey McCabe took a pass from her sister Mariah McCabe in for a layup, and Greta Hahn hit the first of her quartet of threes for a 7-4 Clipper lead.
Greta Hahn put in three more threes in the half and a two, and with a Taylor McCabe three for the last basket of the half, the Clippers led 34-15.
Madelia scored the first 10 points of the second half and with a three, pulled within 10, 37-27, but after Remiger took a time out, Addi Holden arced in two threes and Mollie Bowman added a three in a 12-point Clipper rampage to halt the Madelia uprising.
“We didn’t come out as strong as we did at the start of the game and realized we had to,” said Greta Hahn.
Madelia adjusted to Greta Hahn and limited her to a basket in the second half, but Ava Hahn had her sister’s back with 10 points, and the Clippers sashayed to the triumph.
“When they started face guarding me, I couldn’t make anything,” said Greta Hahn. “That’s all right though. It feels good to win.”
Remiger said the rebounding was much better than it has been with Holden springing into action and Mariah McCabe adding to the defense as well.
“Mariah on the weak side…there we multiple times where she was getting the rebounds. Look at Mollie too. She hasn’t been getting a ton of game time, but we had a game plan tonight that we need Mollie, Olivia (Reinhardt), Sam Baker, Taylor and Delaney Thompson. ‘You’re starting B squad as a group, and we need you to take over. I felt in the first half of the B squad they did a good job with that, and it just moved from there into the varsity. I am pleased with tonight: lots of good things.”
Ava Hahn scored 14 points, eight of them from the foul line. Lacey McCabe added 12 points, and Holden, with two threes in her mix, totaled 10 points.
Bowman put in a three, a two and a pair of freebies for seven points. Taylor McCabe scored a three and a two for five points. Thompson and Mariah McCabe each made a free throw.
The Clippers totaled eight threes and were 18 of 32 from the foul line. Madelia made three threes and were nine of 21 in free throw shooting.
Alden Conger 57, Cleveland 41
With Alden-Conger only having six players, the game was for the taking, at least in the first half, but it didn’t help that Ava Hahn, often the Clippers’ top scorer, was out with the bug that is winding its way through the school.
The Knights scored inside for the game’s first basket. Greta Hahn responded with a three and then rammed into the lane and put in a jumper for two more. Lacey McCabe scored, and her sister Taylor McCabe took a trip to the line and made two of three shots to stalemate the game at nine. But the Knights scored the next six points before Hahn bagged another three.
The Knights canceled it though on their next trip down the court. Holden sunk a three, and Mariah McCabe made a two-point basket, but the Clippers trailed 25-20 at the break.
Lacey McCabe put in a two and a three in the second half. Greta Hahn also made five points, and Holden scored twice, but the Knights extended their lead.
With 13 points, Hahn led the effort. Lacey McCabe added nine points, and Holden posted seven points.
Mariah McCabe contributed five points while Taylor McCabe had four points. Bowman had two points. Keira Schipper made a free throw.
The Clippers made four threes and were seven of 13 in free throws. Alden-Conger had one fewer three and was 14 of 24 from the foul line.
“We had some opportunities but were not there at all,” Remiger said.
The Clippers host New Ulm Cathedral tonight in a 7:30 game.
Greta Hahn eyes the hoop as she takes the ball inside.
Addi Holden sets up to release a three-point shot at Madelia.
Ava Hahn works the ball inside.
Lacey McCabe steers the ball to the lane.
Mariah McCabe moves her way to the baseline under pressure.
Addi Holden runs in for a shot on the Alden court.
Greta Hahn on the pass in Alden.