Relying almost fully on the three-point shot, the JV girls fell to visiting Sibley East 37-21 on Monday.
Harper Rutz and Emma Kortuem each bagged a triple in the first minute and a half, but the Wolverines kept up. After the teams exchanged a free shot, the Wolverines rallied for nine-straight points to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Rutz canned another three, but so did the Wolverines. Kortuem sunk a three, but the Wolverines ran in a layup to lead 21-13 at halftime.
In the second frame, Rutz made a two and another three, and Kortuem sunk three of four free shots, but the Clippers, shooting often from behind the arc, were mostly off target, and the Wolverines outscored the Clippers 16-8 for the victory.
Rutz put in three triples and a two-point shot for 11 total points while Kortuem made two threes and four of six free shots for 10 points. No other Clipper scored or even went to the foul line. Sibley East put in four threes and five of six free throws.
The Clippers were coming off a 53-21 loss to host St James Area on Thursday. They trailed 29-7 at halftime.
Kortuem made a pair of baskets and two free shots in the first half while Kaitlyn Flowers made a free throw. Kortuem went on to put in a triple and a free shot in the second half for 10 total points. Brooke Bosse made a pair of second-half threes for six points. Kiya Sohn and Rutz each made a second-half bucket. Checked into the game for the first half only, Flowers chipped in one point.
The foul line was not kind to the Clippers. They were four of 19 there. The Saints put in four threes and seven of 13 free shots.
But the Clippers did win big in Granada on February 3, 53-25. They led GHEC/T/ML 31-14 at halftime.
With a quartet of triples, two two-point baskets and three fee baskets in the first half and four two-point baskets and a three in the second half, Kortuem led the Clippers with 30 points. Rutz put in a pair of two-point shots and a three in the first half and two two-point buckets and two free throws in the second half for 13 points. Bosse made a bucket in each half for four points. Only playing in the first half, Flowers made a two and a freebie for three points. Sohn chipped in a second half bucket, and Taylor Wolf made a second-half free throw.
The Clippers totaled six threes and made seven of 11 foul shots while the Jaguars made one three and two of five free shots.
The JV Clippers are back in action tonight (Tuesday) when they host Waterville-Elysian-Morristown at 5:45.
Above: Recovering from an ankle injury, eighth grader Allie Anderson stuck with the team on the sideline all season. She wasn’t planning to get back in uniform but managed to for the first time at St. James. Here, she looks to find an open teammate as a Sibley East defender keeps watch.
