Lena Evans’ late 3-pointer sends CCA past Mount Vernon in a battle of unbeatens

MOUNT VERNON — Nate Sanderson provided a surprising puzzle.

Lena Evans had the solution at the end.

Evans drilled a tie-breaking 3-pointer — her fifth deep shot of the game — with 9 seconds left to lift Class 4A second-ranked Clear Creek Amana past 3A No. 2 Mount Vernon, 50-47, in a Wamac Conference cross-divisional girls’ basketball dandy Thursday night at Mount Vernon High School.

“I wasn’t expecting to take the last shot, but I was really excited that I got it,” said Evans, who came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points. “I was coming open, and Kaylee (Stratton) got an amazing pass to me.”

The last remaining area unbeaten, Clear Creek Amana (10-0) prevailed in a battle that featured seven ties and 12 lead changes, overcoming a seven-point third-quarter deficit.

Averie Lower, the Clippers’ leading scorer, was the target of a box-and-one scheme implemented by Sanderson, the Mount Vernon coach.

Taylor Franck was Lower’s shadow for much of the contest, and Lower attempted only two shots, none after the first quarter.

“I didn’t anticipate that,” CCA Coach P.J. Sweeney said of the Mustangs’ gimmick. “We’ve seen some face-guarding, some (man-to-man), but this caught us off guard. I’ve seen Mount Vernon play, I don’t know how many times, and it’s always been a 2-3 zone.”

Sanderson said, “We haven’t showed box since we’ve been here. While it was snowing outside, I think I watched (CCA’s) whole season (on tape).

“They shredded our basic stuff last year. Our goal was to try this and hang around as long as we could.”

The Mustangs (11-1) hung for the entire 32 minutes. But after Franck’s drive got the hosts even at 47-all with 20 seconds left, Evans fearlessly nailed the game-winner.

“She could miss 10 shots in a row, and she’d think the next 10 are going in,” Sweeney said. “Shooters need to have a short-term memory, and Lena has that.”

“With them playing a box like that, it opened some stuff up for the rest of us,” Evans said. “We were excited for this one; we thought they would be our best competition in the Wamac.”

Bliss Beck and Ava Locklear both posted eight points and seven rebounds for the Clippers. Both of the Strattons — Kaylee and Kennedy — added seven points apiece.

Sydney Huber led Mount Vernon with 14 points (12 in the first half) and seven rebounds. Franck tallied eight points.

Neither team led by more than five points in the first half. Mount Vernon scored the first seven points of the second half for a 36-29 advantage, but the Clippers were within 38-37 with a quarter to play.

Evans’ fourth trey put CCA up 42-38 with 4:50 to go. Her fifth was the game-winner. Franck’s attempt to tie hit the backboard, then rimmed out at the horn.

Clear Creek Amana 50, Mount Vernon 47

At Mount Vernon

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (50): Kaylee Stratton 3-5 0-0 7, Averie Lower 1-2 0-0 3, Sam Schrage 1-5 0-0 2, Bliss Beck 3-4 2-6 8, Ava Locklear 2-10 4-6 8, Lena Evans 5-10 0-0 15, Kennedy Stratton 3-5 0-0 7. Totals 18-41 6-12 50.

MOUNT VERNON (47): Courtney Franck 3-9 0-0 7, Taylor Franck 3-7 1-2 8, Chloe Meester 2-6 3-5 7, Sydney Huber 6-11 0-0 14, Peyton Simpson 2-4 0-0 6, Brynley Rasmussen 1-3 0-0 2, Eryn Jackson 1-2 0-0 3, Josie Niehaus 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-43 4-7 47.

Clear Creek Amana 10 19 8 13 — 50

Mount Vernon 13 15 10 9 — 47

3-point goals: CCA 8-21 (Kay. Stratton 1-2, Lower 1-2, Schrage 0-4, Evans 5-10, Kenn. Stratton 1-3), Mount Vernon 7-16 (C. Franck 1-2, T. Franck 1-3, Huber 2-4, Simpson 2-4, Jackson 1-2, Niehaus 0-1). Team fouls: CCA 13, Mount Vernon 6. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: CCA 27 (Beck, Locklear 7), Mount Vernon 25 (Huber 7). Assists: CCA 13 (Locklear, Evans 4), Mount Vernon 11 (C. Franck 4). Steals: CCA 11 (Kay. Stratton, Lower, Locklear 3), Mount Vernon 6 (C. Franck, Huber 2). Turnovers: CCA 12, Mount Vernon 17.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com