After a loss to visiting Martin County West on November 26, the Clipper B-Squad girls took their 0-2 record to Mankato Loyola on Monday and walloped the Crusaders 51-11.
After baskets by Olivia Reinhardt and Kiya Sohn to get the party started, Harper Rutz dumped in a pair of threes, and with a Cecelia Gair bucket, the Clippers were in front 12 to zip before the Crusaders got on the board with a basket.
With a trio of two-point baskets from Rutz and a Brooke Bosse two, the Clippers led 20-4 at the intermission. Keeping their foot on the gas pedal, they outscored the Crusaders 31-7 in the second half.
With 15 points, six of them from three-point land, Rutz paced the Clippers. Also with a pair of threes in her mix, Emma Kortuem added 11 points, all in the second half. Taylor Wolf had seven points, Bosse had six points, Sohn and Reinhardt each had four points, and Gair and Ava Kluntz each chipped in a bucket.
The Clippers put in four threes and three of 11 foul shots while the Crusaders had no threes and were one of four from the charity line.
Against Martin County West, the Mavericks’ 11-0 start was finally broken up when Kortuem set up at the corner and popped in a three. Rutz followed with a two pointer from the baseline, but the Clippers still trailed 11-5.
But from there, the Mavericks hit a trio of threes while the Clippers could only muster four free baskets, one each from Reinhardt and Kortuem and two from Rutz, and they trailed 29-9 at the break.
With two more threes, a basket from the floor and a pair of freebies by Kortuem, three two-point baskets and a three from Rutz, a two-point basket and a free throw from Bosse and a free throw from Kluntz, the Clippers outscored MCW 23-14 in the second half—and pulled within 9, 37-28 after Rutz’s three—but it wasn’t enough, and the Mavericks won 43-32.
With 14 points, including a hat trick of threes, Kortuem led the effort. Rutz was right behind with 13 points. Bosse had three points, and Kluntz added one point.
Each team made four baskets from behind the arc. The Clippers were eight of 14 from the foul line while MCW made one of two free throws.
The B girls are back in action on Thursday when they host Madelia.
Above: Harper Rutz completes a bounce pass to Brooke Bosse during the game against MCW.
