It was a good start for the Clipper varsity girls against visiting Alden-Conger on Thursday, but the Knights worked their way inside to regain the lead and then went outside with three threes to down the Clippers 65-52.
“We gave up too many points down low,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “We rebounded well the first eight or nine minutes of the game and that kind of disappeared too.”
After Addi Holden stole under the Knight rim, Ava Hahn looped in a three. The Clippers regained possession on a tie up, and Greta Hahn grabbed the ensuing offensive rebound and quickly handed off to her sister across the lane, who put it back up for a bucket. After a Holden three, the Clippers led 8-3.
The Knights put in a pair of foul shots followed by a three and then a two-point basket to stalemate the game 8-8, but Greta Hahn fired off a basket from near the foul line, Ava Hahn stole and drove the floor for a layup and then made a quick steal on the inbounds and put it up and in for two more Clipper points.
Continuing the run, Mollie Bowman arced in a three and then stole to set up a Greta Hahn layup, and the Clippers were suddenly in front 19-10.
Later, Keira Schipper bagged a three, and Taylor McCabe stole cruised down court for the second of three baskets she would have in the half.
But working the ball inside, the Knights shaved five points off their debt and only trailed by five, 38-34 at the break.
McCabe stole and drove the floor for the first bucket of the second half, but the Knights responded with a pair of inside baskets. Ava Hahn made a three from the corner and then a layup, but the Knights scored the next five points to knot the game at 45 with 10:42 remaining.
Greta Hahn hit a jumper from the lane to regain the lead for the Clippers, but the Knights buried a trio of threes in a 10-point run for a lead they would never relinquish. Down the stretch, Greta Hahn made a three, and Taylor McCabe stole and scored, but it was too little too late, and the Knights hung on for the triumph.
Earlier in the year, the Knights, who only field six players, beat the visiting Clippers 57-41, but Ava Hahn was out that game. This time, she led the Clippers with 17 points, including nine points from beyond the arc.
Greta Hahn put in three baskets from the floor and a three for nine points. Taylor McCabe had 10 points. Addi Holden put in a free throw, a two and a three in the first half for six total points. Bowman had a two and a three in the first half for five points. Schipper had three points, and Lacey McCabe chipped in a first-half bucket.
The Clippers made seven threes and one of two foul shots. Alden-Conger put in six threes and were nine of 14 from the foul stripe.
The Clippers return to action today (Friday) in a 5:45 game at Le Sueur.
Above: Ava Hahn bounce passes to her sister Greta Hahn.
Addi Holden sets for a shot.
Taylor McCabe on one of several breakaways she had after making steals.
Lacey McCabe tosses to Addi Holden.
Mollie Bowman twists back to grab a loose ball.
Greta Hahn hands off to Ava Hahn.