Just five days after they organized, the C-Squad girls have already posted their first win: a 25-20 victory over Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman in Granada on Monday.
The Clippers’ starting group was all eighth graders.
Valentina Rohlfing found an open slot in the lane and scored the game’s first basket. Cecelia Gair plunked in an outside shot, but the Jags, using their height, led 6-4.
Rohlfing stole near half court and cruised in for a layup, and Jocelyn Kortuem bagged a three. Freshman Taylor Wolf, in after Kiya Sohn hurt her ankle, scored the Clippers’ last bucket of the half, but they lagged 14-11 at the break.
The second half was all Clippers though as they zipped the ball around on offense and grabbed rebounds on defense to outscore their opponents 14-6.
Ava Kluntz made the back end of a pair of free throws for the first score of the second half. Rohlfing grabbed an offensive rebound and tossed it in for a bucket, and Wolf made a free throw. From there, Kaitlyn Flowers went to work with a pair of twos capped off by a three for seven-straight Clipper points.
Down the stretch, Rohlfing made the first of two free throws and then back-to back free throws, and the Clippers hung on for the win.
With nine points, Rohlfing paced the Clippers. Flowers had seven points. Kortuem and Wolf each added three points. Gair contributed a bucket. Kluntz chipped in one point.
The Clippers made a pair of threes and were a lackluster five of 13 from the foul line. The Jags didn’t score from outside the arc and were two of eight in free throw shooting.
The 1-1 C-Squad girls are slated to return to action on January 30 when they host Madelia.
Above: Kaitlyn Flowers gets sandwiched by two defenders as she moves towards the bucket.
Kiya Sohn gets set for a shot.
Ava Kluntz faces a Jaguar big.
Valentina Rohlfing weaves toward the basket.