CCA tops Benton, creates a 3-way Wamac West girls’ basketball title tie

VAN HORNE — For the third straight year, the top of the Wamac Conference West Division is a source of congestion.

And for the third straight year, Clear Creek Amana is in the middle of the gridlock.

It’s not a bad place to be.

Ava Locklear contributed 19 points and 16 rebounds, and Class 4A 15th-ranked CCA held No. 12 Benton Community to 25-percent shooting in a 40-35 Wamac West girls’ basketball battle Tuesday night at Benton Community High School.

“Like I told the girls afterward, they have the heart of a champion,” Clippers Coach P.J. Sweeney said.

And another banner to go with it.

Tuesday’s result means a three-way tie for the Wamac West title, shared by CCA (15-6, 9-3), Benton (17-4, 9-3) and Center Point-Urbana (18-3, 9-3).

The Clippers shared the 2020 divisional title with CPU, the 2021 crown with Benton and Vinton-Shellsburg.

To Sweeney, it matters.

“That’s our No. 1 goal every year, to win the Wamac West,” he said.

The Clippers won for the 14th time in the last 16 games after starting 1-4.

“We started utilizing our height more,” Locklear said. “With Bliss (Beck) and me, we usually have a height advantage somewhere.”

Locklear and Benton’s Jenna Twedt both had 11 points at halftime. In the end, Locklear got more help.

After the Bobcats had carved an eight-point deficit to 35-31, Olivia Miller hit a clutch 3-pointer. Then, after McKenna Kramer’s trey got Benton within 38-35 with 1:01 to go, Miller struck again with a press-break basket.

And that, as it turned out, completed the scoring.

“Both of their posts are talented; (Locklear) has a nice mid-range game,” Benton Coach Jeff Zittergruen said. “And credit to their guards. They kicked it out and made shots at the end.”

Miller finished with 10 points, eight in the second half.

Twedt led all scorers with 21 points, but it took 29 shots to get there (she made eight). Twedt also collected six steals.

CCA held the Bobcats to 12-of-48 shooting from the floor.

“We wanted to face-guard (McKenna) Kramer, and we wanted to frustrate (Twedt) a little bit,” Sweeney said. “When she got to the basket, we usually had a rim protector in Ava or Bliss.”

For Benton, there is still regular-season work to be done. If the Bobcats can beat Solon at home Monday, they will share the overall Wamac title with CPU.

The Stormin’ Pointers are 15-3 in all conference games; Benton is 14-3.

Clear Creek Amana 40, Benton Community 35

At Van Horne

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (40): Samantha Schrage 0-2 0-0 0, Olivia Miller 4-5 0-0 10, Bliss Beck 2-5 1-3 5, Reese Stockman 1-3 0-1 3, Ava Locklear 7-11 5-7 19, Kalin Rotzoll 1-2 0-0 3, Eva Plathe 0-0 0-0 0, Kaylee Stratton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-28 6-11 40.

BENTON COMMUNITY (35): Emma Townsley 0-3 0-0 0, McKenna Kramer 2-5 0-0 6, Jenna Twedt 8-29 2-2 21, Zoey Junge 1-4 3-4 6, Grace Embretson 1-3 0-0 2, Piper Nelson 0-1 0-0 0, Alyssa Tegeler 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Von Ahsen 0-0 0-0 0, Addison Phillips 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 12-48 5-6 35.

Clear Creek Amana 7 9 13 11 — 40

Benton Community 7 4 13 11 — 35

3-point goals: CCA 4-8 (Schrage 0-1, Miller 2-3, Stockman 1-2, Rotzoll 1-2), Benton 6-22 (Townsley 0-1, Kramer 2-5, Twedt 3-12, Junge 0-2, Phillips 0-2). Team fouls: CCA 9, Benton 15. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: CCA 29 (Locklear 16), Benton 24 (Junge, Nelson 4). Assists: CCA 7 (Stockman 3), Benton 4 (Townsley 3). Steals: CCA 3 (Miller, Beck, Rotzoll), Benton 12 (Twedt 6). Turnovers: CCA 18, Benton 7.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com