Although they ran out of time outs and missed six of seven free throws in overtime, the Clipper B girls hung on to beat visiting Mankato Loyola 41-40 on Monday.
The Clippers were down 19-7 at the break, but Mollie Bowman (above) terrorized the Crusaders with back-to-back steals and ensuing layups to start the second half.
From there, the 5-10 sophomore sunk a pair of free shots, plopped in a basket from the baseline and took the ball inside for a bucket to complete a 10-point run, and the Clippers were back in business, only trailing 19-17.
Later in the second frame, Bowman got fouled under the rim and made the first of two free shots, and the Clippers went ahead 38-37 when Keira Schipper pulled down an offensive rebound after a Bowman steal and scored to put the Clippers in front 38-37.
But with 2.5 seconds left, Loyola made the first of two foul shots to deadlock the score at 38, and the game went into overtime.
Schipper made a free throw to put the Clippers in front in the extra three minutes. Later, Loyola made a quick steal and ensuing basket to go up front 40-39.
But Schipper stole and drove three quarters of the court for the game-winning basket. The Clippers missed all four free throws down the stretch, but Loyola suffered a pair of turnovers that kept them off the scoreboard.
Taking advantage of a couple of steals and a Clipper turnover out of bounds, the Crusaders scored the game’s first 11 points.
With a three at the 8-minute mark, Kaitlyn Flowers finally flipped on the Clipper side of the scoreboard, but the Clippers only mustered four more points in the half: a Bowman free throw and another Flowers three.
After Bowman went on a terror to start the second half, the Crusaders posted the next two baskets, but Flowers took a Schipper toss in for a basket. Loyola scored again, but Jocelyn Kortuem scored from under the net, and Bowman assisted a Valentina Rohlfing bucket from the baseline.
With the Clippers trailing 28-23, Schipper assisted a Bowman inside bucket. Bowman took an in-bounds pass up and in for two, and with a Schipper three, the Clippers had their first lead of the game, 30-29.
From there, Schipper put in a free throw and then stole and assisted a Flowers jump shot. Olivia Reinhardt scored, but the Crusaders put in a jumper and a free shot to go up front 37-35 before Schipper’s steal and layup.
Bowman led the Clippers with 16 points. Flowers had two threes and a pair of twos for 10 points. Schipper had nine points, including one three. Kortuem, Rohlfing and Reinhardt each contributed a basket.
The Clippers were five of 16 from the foul line. The Crusaders had one three and were 11 of 18 in free throw shooting.
The B girls return to action today (Thursday) with a road trip to Sherburn to take on Martin County West. They edged the Mavericks by a point in Cleveland earlier in the season.
Kaitlyn Flowers guides the ball down court.
Olivia Reinhardt cuts toward the bucket.
Valentina Rohlfing winds up for a shot.
Keira Schipper eyes the net under pressure.