Sarena Remiger

Counted on for her defense down low, Sarena Remiger’s job on the Clipper girls basketball team doesn’t rank high on the glamour index.

But the 6-0 sophomore (above) has the mental and physical toughness to make a significant contribution. On Friday, her protection in the paint was instrumental as the Clippers, with a 49-42 win over visiting Martin County West, avenged an earlier season loss.  

Considering the Clippers only two defeats so far this year were without Remiger and Halle McCabe on the floor, the 2021 season is shaping up to be quite different than that of a year ago.

“We were 3-22 last season, and now we’re already 3-2,” said Remiger, who is as gracious off the court as she is fierce on it. “It’s just fun to see how everyone has improved, to see how the work everyone has put in has made us so much better.”

In concussion protocol, Remiger watched but didn’t participate in all of the team’s practices before she finally got back on the court a few days before her first game last Tuesday. It wasn’t her first concussion, although only one of the others she suffered happened during basketball.

“I got it ice skating over winter break. I went to physical therapy for about a month. The other ones were just me being clumsy and from soccer when I was little, but my parents didn’t want me to play basketball. My doctor didn’t want me to play, but I love the game too much.”

With a three-point play, it was Remiger who scored the first points on Friday. On a possession she earned for the Clippers with a steal, she pulled down an offensive rebound, drove in for a layup and sunk the and-one free throw.

The Mavericks scored a two and then a three after, both on steals, but McCabe took an inbounds pass up for a basket.

Macey Ziebarth, who would lead all scorers with 18 points, missed a three, grabbed her own rebound and, still behind the arc, shot again. This time it went in to put the Clippers in front 8-7.

The Mavericks responded with a three and a freebie, but Emily Kern rebounded and scored. A couple possessions later Kern picked up a loose ball under the Clipper basket, scored and made the ensuing free shot to put the Clippers up 13-10. 

It was a lead they would never give up.

Ziebarth took a Laci Hollerich pass in for a score. MCW quickly made four steals but, with the defense of Remiger and company, the Mavericks, only making a free throw over a long stretch, didn’t profit on any of them.

Head coach Joe Remiger said he assumes his daughter will always work her hardest, but he takes a back seat to making sure that happens.

“I expect that of from her. That’s what I want from our team. That’s what I want from her. The dad-daughter thing…it’s a hard thing. I try to encourage her. I may say a few blurbs once in a while, but it’s like ‘Chris (assistant coach Seely), you talk to her. You take care of her.’ It’s worked out so far, but yeah. I’m proud of her.”

Meanwhile, McCabe scored on a Kern assist, Ziebarth stole and raced down the floor for a layup, and Kaylee Karels and Remiger teamed up to go four-for-four from the charity stripe for a 24-11 orange & black advantage.

With layups by Karels and Kern, the Clippers doubled the Maverick’s efforts for a 28-14 lead at the intermission.

“We were rebounding a ton better than we did the first game,” said coach Remiger. “Halle and Sarena and Emily combined were jamming their cutters big time. We played a ton better on the help line.”

But he Mavericks scored the first eight points of the second half, including a pair of threes after steals. Ziebarth dropped in a three, but MCW swiped the ball again and scored on a jump shot. Hollerich, back in the game after twisting her ankle earlier, took a long McCabe pass in for a basket, but after more Clipper turnovers, the Mavericks pulled within three, 33-30.

“We had too many second shots, and we were letting two of their players cut across the lane,” coach Remiger said. “We have to understand that with Roger (Taylor, MCW’s coach), this MCW team…they’re not going to go away. But I have to remember that for (Sarena) and Halle, it’s only game two. The other girls have five games in. So we are a few steps behind, but we expect them to keep getting better and better.”

But the Clippers scored seven of the next nine points. McCabe, stopped in the paint, kicked the ball back out Karels, who dropped in a timely three-pointer. Ziebarth and Karels each scored on a shot from the floor.

“We struggled offensively, but we hit big shots when we needed to,” coach Remiger said.

With the Clippers leading 40-32 with about 3 minutes left, Remiger was looking to delay, but Ziebarth came down the floor and instantly arced in a three.

“It’s like Austin Plonsky (the Clipper boys all-time career leading scorer), that whole cold-blooded thing. I suppose as a shooter, that’s what you do, but as a coach you say ‘why did you shoot that?’ But how do you say ‘don’t shoot that’ when they make it? She buried that shot, and it kind of buried them.”

One of Maverick starters fouled out soon after to further the Clipper cause. With a three at the 2:05 mark, the Mavericks, down 43-35, were still in the game, but the Clippers managed their heavy press and made free throws down the stretch to hang on for the triumph.  

Karels contributed 11 points. Kern added nine, Remiger scored five, and McCabe chipped in four points. Hollerich scored two points. Ziebarth had a hat trick of threes while Karels had one three. The Clippers were successful in 11 of 20 free throw attempts.

The Clippers will take a road trip to St. Clair, 4-0 in the conference, on Monday.

Kaylee Karels bulls through MCW’s late-game press.

Halle McCabe dribbles in the corner.

With 18 points, Macey Ziebarth was the game’s leading scorer.