Perfection quest has Clear Creek Amana rolling along at 6-0

Perfection is an impossible goal. But the girls basketball players and staff at Clear Creek Amana pursue it nonetheless.

“The entire team strives for perfection,” first-year coach Matt Hoeppner said. “Whether it’s defense, rebounding, shooting ... how do we get perfect?”

Of course, you’re never going to shoot 100 percent, or hold the opponent scoreless, or get every rebound.

But through the quest for perfection, excellence can be reached. And so far, the Clippers have attained that lofty status.

Fourth-ranked in Class 4A, Clear Creek Amana is 6-0 heading into Friday’s Wamac Conference West Division showdown at Williamsburg.

The Clippers have won all six of their games by double-digits. That includes five victories over teams that were ranked at the time they played (Burlington, Iowa City West, Solon, Independence and Iowa City Liberty).

This is Hoeppner’s fourth head-coaching job, following stints at Davenport North, West Liberty and Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

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“My wife alerted me that this position was open,” he said. “A couple of (CCA) families have West Liberty ties, and I knew this would be an interesting place to coach.

“I wasn’t necessarily looking to leave (Jefferson), but there it was, and here I am.”

Hoeppner inherited a program that P.J. Sweeney built into something strong and stable. Two years ago, CCA went 26-0 and captured the 4A championship.

Several seniors on this team — including Arizona State signee Averie Lower and Lena Evans — were instrumental on that 2024 title team.

Lower is averaging 26.8 points per game, shooting 58 percent from the floor, 44 percent from long distance and 89 percent from the line.

“She’s not just a 3-point shooter. She has gone inside, posted up. She’s become a full, complete player,” Hoeppner said.

Evans adds 16.5 points per game, senior Kennedy Stratton 8.0, freshman Lydia Keller 7.8.

Keller has made immediate contributions despite suffering a fractured hand during football season; she was the quarterback of CCA’s freshman team.

The Clippers’ ultimate goals are mostly unsaid, but “we know where we want to go,” Hoeppner said. “They’ve done a good job of keeping it game-by-game.”

It went on ... and on ...

Thirty-two minutes wasn’t enough to determine a winner Monday when North Linn faced Bellevue.

Not even close.

It took four overtimes before Bellevue ultimately prevailed, 83-73, at Troy Mills.

The game was tied 47-47 at the end of regulation, then 54-54, 60-60 and 67-67 at the close of each of the first three overtimes.

Bellevue’s Kenzingten Scheckel scored 31 points to lead all scorers. She was 12-of-12 from the free-throw line.

For North Linn, Samantha West led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out. Freshman Izzy Dudley added 17 points, Whitney Brady 14.

Friday showdowns abound

Clear Creek Amana’s showdown at Williamsburg (5-1) — both teams are 1-0 in the Wamac West — is one of eight biggies Friday in the area.

Others (note, all games Friday involving MVC teams are non-conference):

* Cedar Rapids Washington (3-2) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-2)

* Iowa City West (5-2) at Iowa City High (6-1).

* Waterloo West (5-1) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-1).

* Solon (3-2 overall, 0-1 Wamac West) at Center Point-Urbana (5-2, 1-0).

* Iowa City Regina (7-1 overall, 2-0 River Valley South) at Tipton (6-1, 2-0).

* Keota (6-1 overall, 4-1 South Iowa Cedar) at Montezuma (5-1, 4-0).

* MFL MarMac (6-1 overall, 4-1 Upper Iowa) at Turkey Valley (5-1, 5-0).

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com