With ice water running through her veins, Kaylee Karels (on the drive above) made 11 of 15 free throws in the second half to lead the Clipper varsity girls to a 56-49 win over visiting Le Sueur-Henderson on Thursday.
The Clippers were up 20-4 in the first half, but the young Giants pulled within two, 27-25 at the break and got in front by as many as six points in the second half before the Clippers regained control.
“They finished off the way they needed to,” said head coach Joe Remiger. “A win’s a win. We needed that. Kaylee hit some nice free shots.”
The Clippers missed shots after the jump ball, and LSH put in a free throw for the game’s first point. Emily Kern sunk a pair of foul shots, but the Giants made a free throw for a 2-2 tie.
Karels stole and drove the court, but her layup caromed off the rim. She made up for the miss though as the Clippers got the rebound and kicked it out to her waiting beyond the three-point line, where she made the game’s first basket from the floor at the 15:10 mark.
From there, Kern plopped another pair of freebies and then made a steal at mid court and the ensuing layup. Greta Hahn hit a three, Sarena Remiger drove through the paint for a basket, Kern pulled down an offensive rebound and scored, and Ava Hahn took a Kern hand off inside for a basket and a 20-4 Clipper lead.
The Giants responded with a three and went to work from there. Karels looped in another three, but after a pair of free throws, the Giants narrowed their deficit to two points at the break.
“We started out well. That 1-3-1 we were running seemed to be working well, but we just weren’t getting back any more,” said coach Remiger. “I don’t know if we were tired or what, but they were getting the ball down faster than we were getting back. We were settling too and not getting dribble drives.”
Remiger made a gratuity shot to start the second half, but LSH hit a three for a 28-28 tie. Shortly after, the Giants went on a 6-point run, including two baskets after steals, for a 36-30 advantage.
From there, Remiger spun in an Ava Hahn assist and then grabbed an O rebound and scored. Kern made a foul shot, and Ava Hahn stole and sprinted down court for a layup that put the Clippers up 37-36.
“We were getting really frustrated with the turnovers we were getting and the baskets that weren’t going in,” Karels said, “but at halftime we communicated; we said what we wanted to say to get better and get this win: pushing the ball, getting back on defense and not forcing the passes and shots.”
While Remiger, who had picked up her fourth foul, took a break the Giants put in a free shot for the tie and then posted seven of the next 11 points for a 44-41 advantage.
Karels made three of four free shots from there to knot the game at 44 and then took a Lacey McCabe assist up from the corner for a three-point basket. Later, the Giants made back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 44, but Remiger, back on the court with a couple minutes left, handed off to Kern inside for a jumper and a 50-48 Clipper advantage.
Kern fouled out shortly after, but the Clippers never lost the lead.
Despite a LSH student section doing its best to rattle her, Karels owned the foul line down the stretch to put the finishing touches on the victory.
“I hear all the noise but just cancel it out and concentrate on making the hoop,” she said.
Karels also put in a trio of threes for 20 total points. Kern had 19 points. Remiger had seven points. Ava Hahn had six points. Greta Hahn had four points, three of them coming from behind the arc. The Clippers were 21 of 30 from the foul line. Laci Hollerich landed backwards on the floor in the first half and didn’t return.
The Giants put in a pair of threes and were 13 of 28 from the foul line. Samantha Wilbright, the Giant’s only senior, led the effort with 24 points. Taylor Holicky (CHS 2014, SMSU 2018) is LSH’s assistant coach.
The Clippers return to action today (Saturday) with a road trip to Lake Crystal. The B game is at 5:45.
Lacey McCabe fights through a couple of defenders.
Sarena Remiger on the shot.
Emma Treanor looks for an open teammate.
Ava Hahn sets up for a pass.
Greta Hahn leaps over a fallen defender. She was able to keep control of the ball.
From Mickey Mouse ears to hard hats, it was lid day in the student section.
Taylor Holicky (CHS 2014, SMSU 2018) returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach to the LSH girls. She had been the junior high coach for a couple of years. The Giants don’t have a B squad.