Before Thursday, the last time the Clipper varsity basketball girls won a playoff game was:
a) 2016 (seniors were Amy Den Herder and Stephanie Holicky)
b) 2017 (Cheyenne Kunkel was the only senior)
c) 2018 (Rachel Kunkel was the only senior)
d) 2019 (seniors were Karna Ziebarth, Katelyn McCabe, Julia McCabe, Caitlyn Brink and Christa Phillips)
If you chose d, you were correct. The win was over Cedar Mountain before their season ended with a loss to BOLD.
So, in topping Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey 58-43 for a win in the first round of the Section 2A playoffs, the 2025 Clippers broke a six-year one-and-done streak, and their victory in sectional play was only the Clippers’ third in at least two decades.
So, even though their season ended four days later with a loss to second-seeded BOLD, that's not a bad accomplishment for the Clippers, who, even with their shallow depth chart, were better than their 5-19 record would indicate.
The Wolverines hung around for most of the game. With Clippers in front 35-27 a few minutes into the second half, Ava Hahn sank a triple, and the Wolverines canceled it.
But after four minutes of scoreless action, Emma Kortuem buried back-to-back threes. Making it three in three trips down the floor, Hahn landed another three, and the Clippers were suddenly in front 47-30.
“Hitting those threes were good for us, and Emma played good defense as well,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “We got down to the (shot clock) buzzer and scored some layups, so you burn off 70 seconds, and that’s a big deal. That put things away too.”
Hahn took a Kaitlyn Flowers handoff up for a jumper and the game’s first basket. After the Wolverines drove the baseline for two, Taylor McCabe hit a shot while passing laterally through the lane.
The Clippers were off target from there but held the Wolverines to only one basket. The Clippers got their offensive groove back though when Hahn spun in a Lacey McCabe assist to tie the game 6-6 and start a 9-point Clipper run that featured a couple more Taylor McCabe baskets—one assisted by her sister the other by Hahn—a Hahn free basket and a pair of Kortuem free throws sprinkled on top.
Hahn and Taylor McCabe took turns scoring from there, including a three from each, and a Lacey McCabe bucket was also part of the Clipper offensive mix, but dumping in a trio of triples, the Wolverines hung around and only trailed by six at halftime, 30-24.
Lacey McCabe scored two baskets while Flowers put in a free shot early in the second half and before the Clippers went on the three-point rampage to take the game over. Later, Taylor McCabe, who led the Clippers with 20 points, dumped in a three.
Hahn had 18 points. She and Taylor McCabe each canned a pair of threes. Lacey McCabe finished the night with eight points, including three two-point baskets and a pair of free baskets. Kortuem also had eight points, six of them scored from three-point territory. Flowers had three points, all scored in the second half, and Addi Holden made a second-half basket.
The Clippers made a third of their shots from the floor and eight of 13 foul shots. The Wolverines made five threes and were four of 15 from the charity line.
The Clippers had 43 rebounds and 11 turnovers. The Wolverines had 41 rebounds and 21 turnovers and made five steals.
Hahn had nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Lacey McCabe had five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Flowers had 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Holden had six rebounds and two assists. Taylor McCabe had seven rebounds, one assist and three steals. Kortuem had two rebounds, one assist and two steals.
BOLD 91, Cleveland 36
In Olivia, the Clippers trailed 63-9 at the half before the lopsided loss.
The Clippers made 22 percent of their shots compared to 52 percent by the BOLD
Hahn put in a three and four free shots for seven points. Kortuem made three two-point shots and a three for nine points. Harper Rutz sank a pair of threes for six total points. Lacey McCabe made a pair of two-point baskets and a free throw for five points. Taylor McCabe put in one two-point basket and three free throws for five points. Holden tossed in a three-point basket while Flowers chipped in a free shot.
The Clippers turned the ball over 19 times, nine more than the Warriors, and grabbed 23 rebounds, 27 less than the Warriors. BOLD had 14 steals and scored 26 points off Cleveland turnovers.
Flowers had three rebounds and one assist. Hahn had seven rebounds and one assist. Rutz had two rebounds and one assist. Lacey McCabe had four rebounds. Taylor McCabe had three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Holden had two rebounds. Kortuem had one rebound, one assist and three steals. Brooke Bosse had one assist.
It was the last game for seniors Hahn, Holden and Lacey McCabe.
BOLD went on to defeat seventh-ranked Cedar Mountain 62-55. Also in the section, third-ranked Sleepy Eye topped sixth-seeded BLHS 61-47 while fourth-ranked MCW beat fifth-seeded Springfield 47-40, and top-seeded Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s rolled over ninth-ranked USC 75-48.
On the GAC court, SESM will take on MCW at 6:00 p.m. on Monday while Sleepy Eye vs BOLD will follow. The winners play at MSU,M for the right to go to state on March 7.
In 2017, the Clippers also won a playoff game. That was over BLHS, before they were eliminated by Cedar Mountain.
In 2012, the Clippers also won a section game when they beat Lyle/Austin Pacelli before falling to Goodhue. Seniors on that team were Brooke Phillips and Emily Dembowski. Also starting for that team were Molly Zimmerman, Cylie Hankins and Taylor Holicky. Any playoff win before that was prior to 2004.
Above: The Clippers line up before the game against MLS/Comfrey.
