Although the varsity Clippers decisively beat Mankato Loyola 49-26 when the Crusaders came to town back on December 19, head coach Joe Remiger wasn’t taking Friday’s rematch lightly.
After all, the young Crusaders, although they had just one win in the conference, were in their own house and had been improving their point differentials in the second half of the Valley season.
“They lost to Nicollet by only 11, so I was like ‘we’re gong to have to come to play tonight,’” said Remiger. “And when we played them last, they didn’t have their full force.”
The Clippers left the Fitzgerald gym with a win, but it didn't come easily. With 59 points, 24 coming from three-point country, the Clippers upped their offense, but with 50 points, the Crusaders did even more.
Senior point guard Kaylee Karels (above), who led all players with 19 points, said the Crusader effort caught her a little off guard, but she knew the Clippers would respond.
“It was unexpected to what we were thinking, but we don’t give up. We put all our effort in and don’t half-(way) do anything.
Karels plopped in a pair of threes to put the Clippers up 6-0. The Crusaders responded with a three, but Mariah McCabe airmailed a three from the corner to put her team in front 9-3.
The Crusaders made the first attempt of three foul shots and then scored a couple of times inside, but Karels buried another three, and Ava Hahn tossed in a basket from near the free-throw line. Sarena Remiger assisted McCabe on an inside basket and then took a McCabe looping pass up and in, and the Clippers were in front 18-8.
“We talked earlier today, and all of us wanted to play our best game and start off strong because lately we have been starting our first half kind of weak,” Karels said. “We wanted to establish momentum right away and have control of the game, so that’s what we did tonight.”
But the Crusaders made three-straight threes to quickly get back in the ball game. Greta Hahn looped in a three, Karels scored from inside, and Ava Hahn put in a free throw, but the Clippers scored form the baseline and made a trio of free shots and went into the locker room only down by four, 30-26.
Greta Hahn hauled in a defensive rebound and took it down court for a layup and the first basket of the second half. Down 34-28, the Crusaders scored six of the next seven points to pull within two.
But Greta Hahn said enough was enough and scored twice on running jumpers and then tossed in a three pointer for seven-straight points.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders were losing the ball out of bounds.
“We put pressure then and they get flustered and start turning the ball over, and we started taking control and got the momentum of the game back” Karels said.
From there, Karels and Ava Hahn each put in another three, and Remiger spun for six points, and Greta Hahn scored again before the Clippers slowed the game down with a couple minutes remaining.
Greta Hahn racked up 16 points in the team effort. Remiger posted a dozen points. Ava Hahn had seven points, and McCabe chipped in five points.
Karels had four threes. Greta Hahn had two threes. Ava Hahn and McCabe each had one three. The Clippers made half of their 10 foul shots. The Crusaders made six baskets from across the arc and were 14 of 23 in free throw shooting.
Coach Remiger pointed to the defensive play of Micah Peterson, who, along with Lacey McCabe, came off the bench.
“Micah does a good job defending post players. She came out and did a good job on number 14. She kept her contained, and she does a good job rebounding.”
The Clippers will host Martin County West on Monday, a team they edged on the road 48-45. The Mavericks will have a chip on their shoulders as they were upset by Alden-Conger last week.
Mariah McCabe sets up for a three-point basket early in the first half.
Ava Hahn takes the ball into the lane and into traffic.
Sarena Remiger puts a shot up from under the rim.
Greta Hahn drives up a shot under pressure. The shot went in.