Alden-Conger/Glenville Emmons came to town and beat the Clipper girls for the second time this season on Monday, this time 62-64. A day later, host Martin County West avenged a December 1 54-43 loss to the Clippers.
Neither Cleveland nor Alden had a run in the first half. Led by Mollie Bowman’s nine points, the Clippers, who did a good job limiting the Knights 6-0 and 6-1 bigs, were only down by a basket, 29-27 at the break.
After an exchange of three-point baskets, Bowman grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for a basket early in the second half, Emma Kortuem bagged her second three of the half, and Taylor McCabe drove through the lane for a bucket and a 35-30 Clipper advantage.
Later, McCabe sank a three, but the Knights responded with a couple of inside baskets and an and-one to lead 49-46.
When the Knights first-half leading scorer fouled out with five minutes left, it looked like the Clippers had an opportunity to retake the lead, but instead the Knights cashed in on a pair of steals for a three-point and a two-point basket to extend their lead.
A couple of minutes later, Bowman exited the game with a leg injury. Ava Kluntz was already out with an injury she suffered in the first half. McCabe made a couple of baskets to narrow the Clipper gap to four points, 54-50, but a minute or so later, Kaitlyn Flowers fouled out.
McCabe made a basket and a pair of free throws from there, but the Knights added a couple of free throws, an inside basket and a layup on an inbounds pass to hang on for the win.
McCabe totaled 24 points with nine of them coming from behind the arc. Bowman had 13 points. Kortuem had 11 points, including a pair of threes. Harper Rutz scored four points, all in the first half. Flowers made a basket in the first half.
The Clippers made 11 of 17 foul shots. The Knights made two threes and 15 of 21 free throws.
Martin County West 66, Cleveland 40.
The Mavericks lead 32-21 at the break.
McCabe and Rutz each had 10 points. Brooke Bosse added eight points as did Kortuem. Allie Anderson had two points, and Flowers and Gretchen Heldberg each put in a free throw.
Rutz had two threes. Kortuem, McCabe and Brooke Bosse each made one three. The Clippers were nine of 16 from the foul line. MCW made four threes and four of 14 free throws.
The Clippers travel to Randolph tonight (Thursday).
Above: The Clippers and their second and third-grade counterparts stand together for the national anthem.
Mollie Bowman was on a roll in the game against Alden before she got hurt in the second half.
Brooke Bosse works her way around a Knight defender.
The second and third-grade Clipper girls basketball team.
The second-and-third graders split into two teams for a halftime show.
Halftime game
Halftime game
Halftime game