Waseca’s inside and outside shooting was too much for the Clipper varsity girls, and they fell 62-45 to the host Bluejays yesterday (Friday).
“I thought we’d play a little bit harder than we did,” said head coach Myrriah Rutz. “I feel like we came out with heavy feet to start with, but at the end of the day, they were pretty physical, and I think that surprised us.”
The Bluejays, who game into the contest with an 0-10 record but have played three 3A opponents as well as their Class 2A competition, plopped in a three on their first possession, but Taylor McCabe replied with a three. After, Mollie Bowman bagged a jumper from the paint in another basket trade.
Later, Emma Kortuem drove the baseline for a basket, and Brooke Bosse launched a three-point bucket from the corner to pull the Clippers within a point, 11-10.
Harper Rutz took a Kortuem assist in for a layup, McCabe scored on an inbounds pass as did Bosse, and after a Bosse jumper for two and a Kaitlyn Flowers offensive rebound and basket, the Clippers trimmed their deficit to three, 26-23, but the Bluejays responded with a three to start a seven-point spurt before Ava Kluntz ran in a layup.
As the clock wound down, Waseca parked another three, but McCabe scored at the buzzer, and the Clippers went into the locker room trailing 38-26.
Bowman scored on an inbounds pass for the first Clipper bucket of the second half. Kortuem put in three twos and a three after the break, but the Bluejays, pounding the ball inside, cruised to the win.
With 14 points, McCabe led the effort. Kortuem added a dozen points, including one three. Bosse had seven points, including one three. Bowman and Rutz each made two two-point buckets. Flowers and Kluntz each chipped in a first-half bucket.
The Clippers put in half of their dozen free shots. The Bluejays made three of five foul shots and five threes.
“They had good shooters, and they also had a good presence inside,” Rutz said. “We got tired really quickly, but I thought the low posts did a good job trying to seal out.”
Bosse grabbed eight rebounds, five under the Clipper glass. Kortuem made seven rebounds, and Kluntz and Flowers each made five. Bowman had three, McCabe had two, and Rutz had one. The Bluejays outrebounded the Clippers 39-31. The Clippers turned the ball over seven times, three fewer than the Bluejays.
“I was happy with our rebounds,” Rutz said. “I thought we crashed the boards hard. Turnovers were better than they have been. We just have to move our feet without the ball. I think that would have created a few more open looks, and when we did take outside shots, they didn’t fall.”
The Clippers will look for their third win when they travel to Waterville today to take on the 3-8, Class 2A Buccaneers. Tipoff is at 5:45.
“We have to figure out how to play a full game and not just a half,” Rutz said.
Above: Waseca senior Audrianna Willingham confronts Taylor McCabe. Willingham is the sister of MSU,M star Malik Willingham, who has ties to Cleveland.
Emma Kortuem takes aim from the baseline.