By the time the final buzzer sounded in Cleveland varsity vs. host Mankato Loyola on Friday, four Clippers: starters Mariah McCabe, Lacey McCabe and Addi Holden, and Mollie Bowman off the bench, were sidelined with five fouls.
But Greta Hahn rained down four three-point shots in the first half, Ava Hahn had a trio of threes in the second half, Holden, in her best game ever, went inside for a dozen points, and the Clipper girls, who were coming off a 61-23 loss at Randolph 24 hours earlier, beat the Crusaders 64-52.
“The bench was a big deal for us,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “Kiera Schipper, Olivia, Reinhardt, and Mollie Bowman stepped up.”
Holden scored twice and Bowman scored once before Greta Hahn’s first three pulled the Clippers to within a basket, 11-9. A Holden basket deadlocked the game at 11 with 7:40 to go in the first half, but after three more Greta Hahn threes and a couple of Ava Hahn baskets in the mix, the Clippers were in front 26-17 at the break.
“I wasn’t hitting threes in warmups, so I was kind of surprised a little bit,” said Greta Hahn.
With the Clippers in front 34-30, Mariah McCabe was the first to foul out. Ava Hahn bagged a three right after to extend the Clipper lead. With the Clippers with foul issues, the Crusaders were able to get the ball inside a few times.
“We were trying to get people to slide over and help,” Remiger said. “And the girls were tired, so kudos to them for getting through that.”
But the Hahn sisters each hit another three, and Holden did a nice job penetrating for baskets before left the game with five infractions.
“Addi had some real good buckets down low in the second half,” Remiger said. “She got foul number five and could have put it away, but the second half it was a big deal for us. There were a few things in the first half with her: defense and rebounding, but in the second half, she demanded the ball and was able to finish it.”
“The post moves…I was on a roll, but then they doubled me,” Holden said. “So I had to kick it out to the corners. They were wide open.”
Ava Hahn stole and canned a three that put the Clippers in front 58-46 when Bowman, who was playing great defense, Remiger said, also departed.
“I like the mean Mollie. She’s come out the last couple of games and been a whole different girl.”
Lacey McCabe picked up her fifth foul in the final minute.
Greta Hahn had 23 points with 15 of them from behind the arc. Ava Hahn had 17 points with nine of them from three-point land. Taylor McCabe contributed eight points. Lacey McCabe and Bowman each put in a basket.
Above: Addi Holden and Greta Hahn on defense at Loyola.