Launched from three-point territory, Lily McMillen’s game-opening basket set the junior high girls on solid footing when Nicollet came to town on Tuesday. The Clippers never trailed in the 37-22 win.
Kenzie Kortuem followed up with a basket inside and, after the Raiders got on the board with a bucket, grabbed her own rebound and hoisted it back up for two more Clipper points.
Similarly wiping the glass, Harley Samuelson hauled a pair of her own missed shots and scored, and with an Emily Baker jump shot for two, the Clippers were in front 11-2.
The next five points went to the visitors. Blair Voit broke up the run with a jumper from the lane. The Raiders scored again, this time from outside, but Samuelson plunged in a basket from deep along the baseline and then took a Kortuem steal and long assist inside for two more Clipper points.
After Kortuem assisted a Voit basket, the Raiders scored and made the and-one for the last three points before the break, but the Clippers were still in front 19-13 at the half.
McMillen also scored the first basket of the second half. It started an 8-point Clipper run, which included a Brylee Kortuem drive to the hoop and two baskets by Kenzie Kortuem: the first after she stole and ran in a layup and the second when she took an inbounds pass up and in for a basket that put the Clippers in front 27-13.
The Raiders posted the next three baskets, but the Clipper defense only gave up three more points the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Kenzie Kortuem and Samuelson worked in tandem for seven points, and Samuelson stole and assisted a Voit bucket before plopping in a free throw to put the finishing touches on the triumph.
Samuelson stuffed the scorebook with a dozen points. Kenzie Kortuem made 10 points. Voit added six points. McMillen contributed five points. Brylee Kortuem and Baker each chipped in a bucket.
The JH girls return to their own court on Monday when they host Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons. The B and varsity games follow.
Above: Lily McMillen dives after a runaway ball.
Brylee Kortuem runs between two defenders.
A Nicollet defender tried to slow up Kylie Wobbrock.
Emmy Miller heads toward the lane under pressure.
Blair Voit winds up for a shot from near the foul line.
A Raider defender tries to rob Kenzie Kortuem.