Ahead by three points at the half, the JV girls offense fell flat in the second half, and they lost to visiting Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on February 11th.
As Tuesday’s home game against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton was cancelled, it was the season finale for the Clippers.
WEM posted the first seven points. Emma Kortuem put in a pair of buckets to flip on the Clipper side of the scoreboard and later bagged a triple, but the Buccaneers were still ahead 10-5.
But after the Bucs put in a free shot, Harper Rutz took an Allie Anderson pass up for a triple. Kortuem dashed down the baseline for a bucket and then drove through the lane for another, and suddenly the Clippers were ahead by a point, 12-11.
The Bucs put in a basket to regain the lead, but with a pair of free baskets, a two-pointer and a trey, Rutz scored through the cycle, and with a Kortuem outside basket, the Clippers led 21-18 at the break.
Rutz bagged a triple 50 seconds into the second half to extend the Clipper advantage to half a dozen, but the Bucs posted the next 11 points to go in front 29-24.
Kortuem put in a three to break up the WEM rally, but the Clippers suffered a five-minute scoring drought from there, and the Bucs led 42-27 when Kiya Sohn made a three.
A half a minute later, Kortuem scored from the floor for the Clippers’ last basket, and the Bucs cruised to the victory.
The Clippers were only operating with seven players, and scoring was concentrated. With a pair of triples, three two-point baskets and two free throws, Kortuem posted half of the 32 points. Rutz sunk a trio of threes, a two-point shot and both of her two free throws for 13 points. Sohn made a second-half three.
The Clippers were successful with four of their six free shots. The Bucs put in three triples and 10 of 19 free throws.
Above: Cecelia Gair and Ava Kluntz tie up a WEM ball carrier.
