Faribault B.A.’s defensive pressure and 32 points by Anna Croke were too much for the varsity Clipper girls on Monday as they fell decisively to the visiting Cardinals 59-19.
With her team down 4-0, Harper Rutz hit a jumper from the corner and stole and drove from shore to shore for a layup that knotted the score 4-4, but five points—from an Emma Kortuem basket and free throw and a Mollie Bowman free throw—were all the Clipper offense could manufacture in the rest of the half.
Meanwhile, Crooke cashed in on three threes and seven of eight free throw attempts to lead the Cards to a 29-8 halftime advantage.
With a two and a three, Brooke Bosse went to work for the Clippers early in the second half, but buckets by Rutz and Ava Kluntz and a pair of free throws by Natalie Flowers off the bench accounted for the rest of the Clipper scoring, and Crooke and company continued to pound the ball inside to cruise to the victory.
No Clipper hit double figures. Rutz totaled six points. Bosse made a two and a three in the second half for five total points. Kortuem had three points, Kluntz and Flowers each had two points, and Bowman had one point.
The Clippers made four of a dozen free throw attempts while the Cardinals were 14 of 22 from the foul line. Crooke made all three of the Cardinals’ baskets from behind the arc.
The Cards scored 20 points off of turnovers and had 19 steals. The Clippers turned the ball over 26 times, 11 more than B.A., and had six steals. The Clippers got outrebounded 27-41 and were outshot 18 percent (7/38) vs. 40 percent (21/52). They made one of 15 three-point attempts compared to three of 13 by the Cards.
The Varsity Clippers will look to start the new year with a W when they play their rescheduled game at Waseca on January 2 at 5:15 p.m. The struggling Class 2A Bluejays are 0-10 with mostly decisive losses, including three to Class 3A teams, although they were within six of TCU. Jump ball for the B squad is at 4:00 p.m.
It will be the first time a Clipper basketball team has competed against Waseca, at least in recent history.
Above: Harper Rutz winds up for a jump shot.
Brooke Bosse bounces a pass.
Ava Kluntz wrestles for possession.
Mollie Bowman looks for options near the rim.
Olivia Reinhardt eyes the bucket. It was the first time on the floor this season for the senior, who suffered a broken thumb during a preseason practice.