CL girls roll over pair of NCC opponents

(Above) Clear Lake’s Annika Nelson lines up a three-point shot during the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows game.  -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy

by Marianne Gasaway

The Lions dominated a pair of North Central Conference opponents last week.  Wins over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows and Hampton-Dumont kept Clear Lake perfect in the league with a 4-0 record.  They are 7-0 overall.

The Lions were slated to play their final game before the break last night (Tuesday Dec. 22) at Iowa Falls-Alden.  The Cadets are just one game behind the Lions in the NCC standings.  IF-A is 3-1, followed by C-G-D and Humboldt at 2-1.  Hampton Dumont slipped to 2-2.  Algona is 1-3 and St. Edmond and Webster city remain winless in NCC games.

Clear Lake will host Waverley-Shell Rock on Jan. 4 to kick-off the second half of their season.

CL 50, C-G-D 27

Jaden Ainley scored 14 points to lead the Clear Lake Lions to a 50-27 win over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Tuesday, Dec. 15.   Emily Theiss and Kaitlyn Vanderploeg also finished in double figures with 10 points apiece.  Vanderploeg pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

The Lions held the Cowgirls to single digit scoring in each quarter of the game.  They took a 31-13 lead into the halftime break.  

  Everyone in the Lion lineup contributed to the win.  Chelsey Holck put in nine points and had a team-high six assists.  Xada Johnson scored four-points and seven rebounds.  Jordan Maryland finished with three-points to round out the Lion scoring.

  Ali Maulsby did not score, but had three of Clear Lake’s 10 steals in the game.  

    “I thought we defended very well.  We have a lot of pieces on defense to allow us to be good in this department,” said Coach Bart Smith.  “We have some bigs that can alter shots and defend an opposing post player and also some guards that can put good ball pressure on the opposing scorer and point guard.  We are still trying to get more rhythm on offense and are making strides with that, but need to get some better chemistry and rhythm there.”

CL 67, H-D 39

Jaden Ainley and Chelsey Holck provided a one-two punch that helped to knock out Hampton-Dumont Friday night, 67-39.  

The Lions jumped out to a quick start and never looked back on their way to the conference victory.  In addition to shooting the ball very well from the floor (53 percent), they out-rebounded the Bulldogs 50-38 and had 13 steals, compared to five for H-D.

Ainley and Holck out in 17 and 13 points respectively, with Holck also getting seven rebounds.  Emily Theiss contributed eight points, while Kaitlyn Vanderploeg had six to go along with her seven rebounds.  The fifth Lion starter, Ali Maulsby, had five points.

Additional scoring was provided by Xada Johnson, with 11, and Annicka Nelson and Jordan Maryland, each with three-points.  Brooklyn Eden  drained a free throw for one point.

    “We had a balanced scoring attack and our offensive flow was much better,” said Coach Bart Smith.  He added that the defense was solid, as well.   “Ali, Emily, and Jaden did a nice job on their two top scores that average 18-plus per game.  We held one in check and the other one really had to work for hers.”