Clear Creek Amana survives Marion’s challenge, finishes regular season at 21-0

TIFFIN — It had been exactly a month since Clear Creek Amana had been pushed to the fourth quarter.

“We needed this,” Coach P.J. Sweeney said. “And our girls responded, every single time.”

The reward? How about 21-0?

Ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, Clear Creek Amana got some big moments from Lena Evans down the stretch, some big boards by both of it big girls, and held off No. 11 Marion, 66-58, in a Wamac Conference cross-division girls’ basketball game Friday night at Clear Creek Amana High School.

“People don’t see the hard work we do every day,” Ava Locklear said. “Going 21-0, it shows people what we do behind the scenes. It shows our determination and our love for the game.”

Locklear posted a double-double (11 points, 18 rebounds). So did Bliss Beck (13 and 11).

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And Evans, a sophomore, continued her role of fearlessness off the bench.

“The moment is never too big for her,” Sweeney said. “Her demeanor never changes.”

Marion (15-6) had carved away at an early 12-point deficit, and led 50-49 on Madeline Pavelka’s basket with 6:50 left in the game.

Evans turned a steal into a basket, converted a three-point play, then scored on a feed from Locklear, all in the span of 60 seconds to flip it back the Clippers’ way at 56-50. Kaylee Stratton’s basket made it 58-50 before the Wolves made one last push.

It was 58-56, then Evans struck one final time, with a 3-pointer with 2:00 to play.

“I was really feeling it there at the end,” said Evans, who finished with 18 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. “I got some really good passes from Ava and Bliss.

“A game like this really gets us ready for the postseason.”

CCA’s last true challenge came Jan. 9 against Mount Vernon, a 50-47 road victory. Their subsequent 10 games had been decided by an average of 45.6 points.

Not this one. Marion trailed 21-9 after a quarter, then responded.

“We got down right away, but the girls had nothing to lose,” Wolves Coach Henry Martinson said. “Nobody expected us to win this one, so it was just a matter of going out and play.

“We were right there with three minutes to go against the team that’s supposed to win it all.”

Pavelka led Marion with 19 points and nine rebounds. Mila Van Weelden added 13 points, Harlow Griffin 10.

Clear Creek Amana 66, Marion 58

At Tiffin

MARION (58): Mallory Heinricy 1-7 0-0 3, Natalie McAllister 2-4 0-0 4, Jenna Heinricy 3-15 0-0 9, Mila Van Weelden 3-13 4-5 13, Madeline Pavelka 8-14 2-2 19, Grace Whalen 0-1 0-0 0, Harlow Griffin 4-6 2-2 10. Totals 21-60 8-9 58

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (66): Kaylee Stratton 3-8 2-3 8, Averie Lower 3-12 2-2 9, Sam Schrage 1-5 0-0 3, Bliss Beck 6-8 1-2 13, Ava Locklear 4-14 3-4 11, Lena Evans 7-14 1-1 18, Kennedy Stratton 2-4 0-0 4, Kiera Rogers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-65 9-12 66.

Marion 9 18 18 13 — 58

Clear Creek Amana 21 16 10 19 — 66

3-point goals: Marion 8-27 (M. Heinricy 1-5, McAllister 0-2, J. Heinricy 3-8, Van Weelden 3-8, Pavelka 1-4), CCA 5-19 (Kay. Stratton 0-1, Lower 1-8, Schrage 1-3, Locklear 0-2, Evans 3-4, Kenn. Stratton 0-1). Team fouls: Marion 12, CCA 10. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Marion 36 (J. Heinricy 11), CCA 42 (Locklear 18). Assists: Marion 13 (M. Heinricy, J. Heinricy 4), CCA 16 (Locklear 5). Steals: Marion 4 (Pavelka 2), CCA 8 (Lower, Locklear 2). Turnovers: Marion 9, CCA 8.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com