Harley Samuelson’s half-court buzzer beater (above) put the junior high girls in front of host Maple River 21-9 at the break, but the Clippers couldn’t sustain in the second half and fell the Eagles 31-27 on Friday (December 20).
With the first two buckets to start the second half, Maple River started to chip away at the Clipper lead. Natalie Flowers put in a free shot, and Samuelson added a basket from the floor, but the Eagles pulled within three, 24-21 before Addison Sandhurst scored from the baseline.
After a free basket and a steal with an ensuing layup, the Eagles scored from under the rim to deadlock the game at 26. Bagging a three with 35 seconds left, they put a big lump of coal in the Clippers' stocking and never trailed after.
Sandhurst made a free shot down the stretch, but after the Clippers missed a pair of free shots, the Eagles pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to put Christmas wrapping on the comeback win.
With a pair of threes and two baskets from the floor, Samuelson led the effort with 10 points. Kylie Wobbrock had three baskets from the floor in the first half for six total points. Gretchen Heldberg had a pair of first half baskets for four points. Sandhurst had three points. Anistyn Dauk put in two free shots in the first half for two points. Flowers put in a free shot in each half for two points.
With mostly a different crew on the floor, the junior high girls also lost the first game against the Eagles.
The junior high girls return to action on Tuesday, January 7 when they host Le Sueur-Henderson for one game.
