Pulling within three points, the varsity girls made a run down the stretch but couldn’t overtake /Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther/Truman in Northrop on Monday and fell 46-41.
The Clippers were coming off an 58-43 home loss to St. Clair on Friday.
“They could have quit but didn’t,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “I told them at halftime, they could have mailed it in and said ‘we’re done,’ but they didn’t.”
Greta Hahn’s basket was the first points for the Clippers. Kaylee Karels arced in a three and a two, and Addi Holden scored from the floor, but the Clippers trailed 24-9 late in the first half.
But the Clippers finished strong before the intermission. Karels and Holden scored on inside shots, and Ava Hahn found an open lane for a layup. With a pair of Karels freebies, the Clippers narrowed their halftime deficit to nine, 26-17.
The Jaguars came out firing in the second half with a couple of threes early. Karels took a Lacey McCabe handoff in for a layup, Greta Hahn scored inside and Karels airmailed a three, but the Jaguars extended their lead, 40-24.
The Clippers never tossed in the white towel though. Ava Hahn made three of four foul shots, and Karels pulled down a defensive rebound and drove from coast to coast for a layup. After Holden and Greta Hahn each dropped in a three, the Clippers only trailed by five, 44-39.
“We were struggling with rebounds, but I think what got us back in the game was Kaylee, Greta, Micah (Peterson) and Addi (above) were boxing out a lot better and we got some boards off of them. We’ve got a long ways to go. When Sarena (Remiger) and Emily (Kern, CHS 2022) were here, it was a no brainer, like we knew it was going to happen, but now we’re struggling with some of that, but we’ll keep working on it and get better.”
With 1:10 remaining, Karels surged through the paint for a layup that put the Clippers within three, but that was it for Clipper offense. The Jags scored inside and went on the delay to hang on for the triumph.
Karels led all scorers with 20 points, six of them coming from three-point land. Greta Hahn had nine points including a three while sister Ava had five points. Holden added seven points including a three.
The Clippers made five of six foul shots. The Jaguars made a trio of threes and were three of nine from the foul line.
The Clippers trailed St. Clair 37-24 at the break. Karels paced the Clippers with 14 points. As far as the sister acts went, Lacey McCabe had 10 points while Mariah McCabe posted six points. Greta Hahn had seven points, and Ava Hahn had four points. Holden chipped in two points.
Greta Hahn plopped in a pair of threes. The McCabes each had a three as did Karels. The Clippers were 12 of 28 in free-throw shooting.
Back after an injury finished her season early last year, Kaylie Hinze led the Cyclones with 20 points. They put up 11 threes and were 11 of 17 from the foul line.
In the B game in Northrop, the Clippers fell 41-20. Lacey McCabe and Holden each scored seven points, McCabe in the first half, Holden in the second. Taylor McCabe contributed four points. Delany Thompson put in a basket.
The Clipper Varsity and B girls are back in action on Thursday when they host Alden-Conger. Remiger hopes daughter Sarena will be healthy enough for her first time out on the floor this season.
Greta Hahn looks for an open teammate.
Kaylee Karels on the breakaway.
Lacey McCabe takes the ball down court.
Ava Hahn reaches for a takeaway.