Clear Creek Amana’s interior defense stymies Center Point-Urbana, 55-34

CENTER POINT — When you’re facing Clear Creek Amana, a 3-footer isn’t necessarily a high-percentage shot.

In fact, odds are pretty good it’s coming back at you.

Class 4A seventh-ranked CCA turned its length into a bevy of blocked shots — and a gigantic rebounding advantage — in a 55-34 Wamac Conference West Division girls’ basketball victory over 3A No. 7 Center Point-Urbana on Friday at Center Point-Urbana High School.

“Between our length and our athleticism, we’re able to block shots and frustrate teams,” CCA Coach P.J. Sweeney said. “You could kind of see it on (the Stormin’ Pointers’) faces, they weren’t used to that.”

Clear Creek Amana (9-2 overall, 3-1 Wamac West) enjoyed a 46-24 advantage on the boards. Ava Locklear and Bliss Beck had to have combined for a double-digit number of blocks.

“Bliss is tall, and knows how to do it,” Locklear said. “One good thing, when you get beat (defensively), you know you have help.”

Locklear finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, despite sitting the majority of the fourth quarter with four fouls. Beck, a Drake University volleyball commit, added 11 points and eight boards.

It goes on. Sam Schrage posted 10 points and seven caroms. Averie Lower, eight and eight.

“We talk about rebounding a lot,” Locklear said. “Box out, crash ... all of that combined.”

All of that interior chaos forced CPU (9-6, 3-1) into 23.9-percent shooting (11 of 46).

“We have some length, and we don’t quit on a play,” Sweeney said. “I have so much respect for CPU and for what Philip (Klett) had done here. To come up here and win by 20-plus, I couldn’t be more proud.”

The Stomin’ Pointers played CCA to a 15-15 draw through the first 12 minutes, but the Clippers closed the half with a 10-1 run to take a nine-point lead into the locker room.

At 30-21, the Clippers busted it open for good with eight straight points.

Mya Hillers paced the Stormin’ Pointers with 15 points.

Clear Creek Amana 55, Center Point-Urbana 34

At Center Point

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (55): Sam Schrage 4-7 0-0 10, Olivia Miller 2-6 0-0 4, Bliss Beck 4-6 3-5 11, Reese Stockman 1-4 0-0 3, Ava Locklear 6-13 0-1 12, Kaylee Stratton 2-6 3-4 7, Averie Lower 3-9 0-1 8, Kiera Rogers 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-52 6-11 55.

CENTER POINT-URBANA (34): Tayler Reaves 1-5 0-0 3, Alivia Sweeney 0-1 0-0 0, Addy Tupa 1-4 0-0 2, Mya Hillers 5-12 4-4 15, Nicole Rick 1-6 1-2 4, Avery Sweeney 1-6 0-0 3, Kailey Spurlock 2-4 2-4 7, Deni Katcher 0-3 0-0 0, Addilyn Wade 0-1 0-0 0, Josie Klett 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 11-46 7-10 34.

Clear Creek Amana 13 12 13 17 — 55

Center Point-Urbana 10 6 7 11 — 34

3-point goals: CCA 5-16 (Schrage 2-4, Miller 0-3, Stockman 1-2, Lower 2-6, Rogers 0-1), CPU 5-17 (Reaves 1-3, Tupa 0-1, Hillers 1-1, Rick 1-4, Av. Sweeney 1-1, Spurlock 1-2, Katcher 0-1, Wade 0-1, Klett 0-3). Team fouls: CCA 13, CPU 16. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: CCA 46 (Locklear 14), CPU 24 (Spurlock 6). Assists: CCA 13 (Stratton, Lower 3), CPU 7 (Av. Sweeney 2). Steals: CCA 8 (Schrage, Locklear 3), CPU 5 (Reaves, Av. Sweeney 2). Turnovers: CCA 12, CPU 10.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com