After narrowly losing their first game in the Cleveland Valley Conference tournament on Saturday 15-12, only their second defeat since falling to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial in their season opener, the eighth-grade girls could have come up with a couple excuses.
For one, the tournament rules only allowed teams to full-court press in the last two minutes of each half, limiting a substantial part of the Clippers’ normal scrappy defensive game. They weren’t accustomed to the tournament’s running clock either, said coach Myrriah Rutz, making play on the frantic side.
Overall though, not setting up well around their basket, they missed too many shots in the low-scoring first round of pool play game against Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther.
But Rutz said the defeat by the Jaguars might have done the Clippers good in the long run. She was right. In the second pool game, the Clippers came back to avenge that early season loss to LCWM and then went on to down Alden-Conger in the tournament championship.
“It was good motivation. Sometimes you need a good loss.”
With the Clippers trailing Alden-Conger 22-20 late in the game, Mattea Grandaw put in a floater, and Brook Bosse hit a layup for the win.
Against GHEC/T/ML, Bosse took the tip off end for a layup. Emma Kortuem sunk a jump shot from the late, and Allie Anderson made the first of two foul shots, but the Jaguars led 6-5. Bosse scored on an in-bound pass, but the Jaguars scored the final three points of the half to lead 9-7.
Continuing where they left off, the Jaguars went on a five-point spurt after the break. Harper Rutz broke up the streak with a jumper from the lane. Anderson stole and scored on a layup, and the Clippers were within three, 14-11.
But after Rutz put in a freebie, that was it for the Clipper scoring, and the Jags made a free throw to put the finishing touches on the 15-12 triumph.
Chances for winning over LCWM didn’t look good early as the Knights scored six out of the first eight points…really all eight because the Clippers’ two points came when a Knight player got disoriented and took an in-bounds pass up and into the Cleveland basket.
But the Clippers cruised for the next dozen points. The rally started when Bosse drove the base line for a basket. She followed up with another basket, this one with Rutz on the assist.
Rutz assisted again when Anderson scored inside. From there, Rutz stole twice and made a free throw after one steal, and Anderson made a free throw after Rutz’s second steal.
Kortuem drove for a basket and then stepped in front of a Knight in-bounds pass and hit a quick layup for a 14-6 Clipper advantage at the intermission.
The Knights scored the first basket of the second half, but Bosse scored, Kortuem scored after making a quick steal, Charlotte Meyer tossed in a bucket, and Anderson scored on a layup to put the Clippers comfortably in front 22-6.
The Knights managed three baskets down the stretch, and Kortuem dove for a basket for the 24-12 final.
Besides the game winner, Bosse had three additional baskets against Alden-Conger. Rutz added six points. Meyer contributed four points. Kortuem, Grandaw and Sierra Lotspeich each chipped in a basket.
The eighth-grade Clippers will play a rubber game when they host LCWM today (Monday) at 4:30.
Above: Mattea Grandaw races down court during LCWM in the second round of pool play.
Brook Bosse sets up for a shot during the game against GHEC/T/ML.
Clara Hilfer winds up for a shot as a Jaguar defender waits for a rebound.
Harper Rutz takes the ball between two Jaguar defenders.
Charlotte Meyer drives inside during the game against GHEC/T/ML.
Sierra Lotspeich eyes the basket as she works around a Jaguar defender.
Mattea Grandaw looks for an open teammate during the pool play game against GHEC/T/ML.
Emma Kortuem drives in for a layup as a Jaguar defender sets up on defense.
Harper Rutz takes the ball through the lane during the game against LCWM.
Millie Baker guides the ball down court as a Knight defender reaches out to slow her down.
Allie Anderson goes up for a shot as a LCWM defender stretches for a block.