Overcoming 16 turnovers in the first half, the varsity Clipper girls canceled a five-point halftime deficit and led host Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 8 minutes into the second half but succumbed to lackluster shooting and ultimately and lost to the Bulldogs 49-36 on Tuesday.
“Especially in the first half and even in the second half we moved the ball around great, but we weren’t hitting shots,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “We just couldn’t finish. There is some frustration, but I think it is something they learn from and get better at.”
The Clippers, who were coming off a pair of Valley Conference wins, got on the board first when Sarena Remiger pulled down an offensive rebound and scored. The Bulldogs responded on their ensuing trip down the floor with a three, but Greta Hahn canceled it for a 5-3 Cleveland lead.
But the Clippers were careless with the ball. The Bulldogs had 10 swipes in the half, limiting their chances to post points. As the half wound down, the Clippers rallied with a pair of Kaylee Karels drives (above) for baskets and two free throws from Ava Hahn for the final six-straight points before the buzzer, but they still trailed 16-21.
Karels waltzed in another basket for the first points of the second half. She followed up with two free throws and then a three from the corner after an Ava Hahn steal for seven-straight points and a 22-21 Clipper advantage.
The Bulldogs rallied for the next seven points though, but Karels hit a three from the top of the key, and Ava Hahn sunk a three to knot the game at 28 with 11:10 remaining.
It was looking good for the Clippers when Karels made a free throw and Ava Hahn stole and drove from shore to shore for a layup that put the Clippers up 31-28, but the Bulldogs went on a six-point spurt to take a lead they would never surrender.
Karels put in a layup after that, and Remiger O rebounded and scored, but that was all the baskets from the floor the Clippers had the rest of the way. The Bulldogs slowed the pace and made free throws to hang on to the triumph.
With 19 points, Karels led all players. Remiger and Ava Hahn each had seven points. Greta Hahn had three points.
The Clippers made four three-point baskets (Karels two and the Hahn sisters each one) and were six of 14 from the charity stripe. JWP made a trio of three pointers and was 16 of 28 in free-throw shooting.
At Alden eight days earlier, the Clippers led 29-26 at the break but held the Knights to 10 points in the second half for a 55-36 triumph.
With 15 points, a third of them from the foul line, Remiger paced her team. Karels rained down a quartet of threes and had a basket from the floor for 14 points. Ava Hahn had four two-point baskets and two free baskets for 10 points. Greta Hahn arced in a pair of baskets from three-point land and had a bucket from the floor for eight points Mariah McCabe put in a free throw.
Off the bench, Addi Holden had a basket in each half for four points, and Micah Peterson put in a three in the first half for three total points.
The Clippers had seven threes and were eight of 12 from the foul line. The Knights made three three-point baskets and half of their eight free shots.
At Madelia the Thursday before, the Clippers were in front 20-13 at halftime and went on to win 52-35.
Greta Hahn racked up 16 points to lead all players with 11 of them, including three from beyond the arc, all coming in the first half. McCabe had a trio of twos and a three pointer for nine points. Remiger totaled eight points, Ava Hahn contributed seven points, and Karels had a pair of threes for six points.
Lacey McCabe put in a basket in the second half for two points. Holden had a pair of second half baskets for four points.
The Clippers had four threes and made 20 percent of their 20 foul shots. The Blackhawks had one three and were 14 of 19 in free throw shooting.
The varsity girls are back in action today (Thursday) when they take a road trip to Lake Crystal. The Knights are 13-0 in the conference. Cleveland is 7-5.
Greta Hahn sets up to launch a three.
Sarena Remiger puts up a contested shot.
Mariah McCabe looks for an open teammate.
Ava Hahn eyes the net.