Snapping a seven-game losing streak and finishing their regular season on a high note, the varsity girls defeated visiting New Ulm Cathedral 62-38 on Tuesday.
Cathedral came in with an 11-14 record and had a pair of wins over Sleepy Eye and a split with Wabasso, both teams the Clippers lost to.
Tonight, the Clippers take on host Nicollet in the first round of the section tournament.
“Tonight, we just seemed to put everything together,” said head coach Myrriah Rutz “It’s encouraging, especially going into a tournament. We played a tough defense. It just happened to be an off night for them and an on night for us, and we’ll take it.”
As it was Senior Night, it was fitting that Olivia Reinhardt and Mollie Bowman each hit double figures with 10 points.
“I thought it was a good way to end it,” said Reinhardt, who, nursing a thumb she broke in practice, missed the first six games this season. “I feel like I have played pretty hard the last few games, so that’s been good. I just like scoring and being out there, and playing with Mollie is so fun.”
Reinhardt took a Harper Rutz pass up from the baseline for the game’s first basket. Taylor McCabe stole and sailed from shore to shore for the next basket, and the Clippers never trailed from there.
Both teams had trouble finding the basket for the next few minutes, but with the Clippers in front 4-3, Bowman spun in a bucket. The Greyhounds responded with a basket from a distance, but Kaitlyn Flowers stole and assisted a Rutz bucket, and McCabe stole and drove the floor for a layup.
After Cathedral cashed in on a steal, Brooke Bosse put in a pair of free shots for a 12-9 Clipper advantage. The Greyhounds bagged a jumper to pull within one. McCabe put in the second of two free throws, but Cathedral made a pair of freebees to deadlock the game 13-13.
Bosse scored to break the tie, and after the Greyhounds put in a freebie, McCabe pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back up for a basket as did Bowman.
Later, Cathedral sparked a three, but Emma Kortuem grabbed her own rebound and put it up for a bucket, and Reinhardt tossed in a basket from a distance for a 27-20 Clipper lead at the break.
McCabe rebounded and scored from the baseline for the first basket of the second half. With a three and a couple of drives to the basket, one after a steal, the Greyhounds hung around for a while, but up 47-36, the Clippers posted 15 of the last 17 points to cruise to the triumph.
McCabe ended the night with 15 points. Along with the senior duo, Kortuem also had 10 points, including the Clippers only three. Rutz contributed nine points. Bosse had six points, and Flowers chipped in a basket.
The Clippers made 13 of 22 foul shots. NUC put in a trio of threes and seven of 12 free throws.
McCabe pulled down 13 rebounds for a double-double. She also had one assist, three steals and one block. Flowers had eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Reinhardt had one rebound, one steal and one block. Rutz had four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Bosse had four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Kortuem had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Bowman had seven rebounds and one assist.
The Clippers limited their turnovers to 13, one fewer than NUC. Cathedral totaled seven steals.
St. James Area 88, Cleveland 42
The Clippers were never really in the game when St. James Area came to town on February 12.
Taking advantage of steals, the Saints jumped out to a 12-0 start. Just under four minutes in, the Clippers finally got on the board when Rutz put in a shot from behind the arc.
The Indians put in eight three-point baskets and 16 baskets from the floor to lead 56-22 at the break.
With 19 points, including one three, McCabe led the Clipper effort. Rutz added 10 points including one three. Allie Anderson made two baskets in the first half. Kortuem had two baskets in the second half. Flowers had three points. Bowman put in a second-half basket.
The Clippers were six of 19 from the foul line. The Saints put in seven threes and nine of 11 free throws.
Sleepy Eye 80, Cleveland 55
The Clippers succumbed to visiting Sleepy Eye’s nine three-point baskets on February 16. Rutz was injured and did not play.
After the Indians took the jump ball in for a bucket, McCabe scored from the baseline, Reinhardt put in a free shot, and Emma Kortuem stole and drove the floor for a layup that put the Clippers in front 5-0.
The Indians ran in five of the next four baskets, three of them after steals, but McCabe scored twice on layups, and Reinhardt put in a free throw for a 12-11 Clipper lead. Later, Bowman took a Reinhardt toss in for a bucket, Kortuem hit a layup and then grabbed an O rebound and put it back up for a bucket and a 20-17 Clipper lead.
But the Indians dropped in a three on their next three possessions. Natalie Flowers grabbed and offensive rebound and scored for the Clippers, but the Indians pulled in front 26-22.
Later, the Indians capitalized on a steal for two points, but Reinhardt sparked a three from the corner. The Indians made a couple of free throws and a layup to pull in front 37-30, but down the stretch, Reinhardt bagged a jumper, McCabe made a free shot, and Kortuem stole and made a layup to narrow the Clipper deficit to two, 37-35, at the break.
But the Indians posted 13 of the first 15 points of the second half and never looked back. As the game drew to a close, they plunged a trio of threes to put an exclamation mark on the win.
With 21 points, Kortuem led the effort. McCabe added 15 points. Reinhardt contributed nine points, including the Clippers’ only three. Natalie Flowers had four points. Bowman and Kaitlyn Flowers each made a basket in the first half. Anderson made two free throws in the second half.
The Clippers made 16 of 23 free throws. The Indians were 16 of 27 from the foul stripe.
Gametime at Nicollet is 7:00 p.m. The Clippers fell to the Raiders 67-33 in Nicollet back on December 12 but gave the Raiders a run on the Clipper court on January 27 when, trailing by 17 at halftime, they pulled within seven in the second half and only lost by 10.
Above: Seniors Olivia Reinhardt and Mollie Bowman were recognized before the NUC game. Also honored was senior statistician Samantha Baker (left). Here, teammate Taylor Wolf gives the seniors gift bags while teammate Taylor McCabe reads a tribute.
Mollie Bowman goes up for a shot during the NUC game.
Kaitlyn Flowers releases a shot during the game against Cathedral.
Harper Rutz dribbles around a NUC defender.
Mollie Bowman falls forward after passing inside during the game against NUC.
Olivia Reinhardt sets up to launch a three-point shot during the NUC game.
Taylor McCabe swings between a pair of Cathedral defenders.
Olivia Reinhardt eyes the basket while a NUC defender keeps her in check.
Mollie Bowman runs in a layup during the second half of the game against NUC.
Allie Anderson takes a look at the basket as a SJA defender keeps close watch.
Emma Kortuem breaks down court during the game against Sleepy Eye.
Clipper Rising Voices performed the school song and the "Star Spangled Banner" after the girls NUC game and before the boys NUC game.