Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – The Clear Creek Amana girls’ basketball team stuffed a lot of work into its preseason preparation.

Instead of two-and-a-half weeks of practice plus a scrimmage, the Class 4A No. 14 Clippers made up for two lost weeks of preparation due to the school’s online-only schoolwork format by participating in twice-a-day sessions in addition to some grueling three-hour workouts.

Judging by their season debut, it appears to have sunk in.

“It has definitely been a little stressful trying to cram everything we need to learn into it,” CCA junior Calia Clubb said after she posted a team-high 14 points, 16 rebounds and five assists for the Clippers in a 63-44 victory over 3A No. 14 Solon in a WAMAC Conference cross-divisional contest Friday night at Clear Creek Amana High School. “But it has paid off. … I wouldn’t say it refreshed our bodies necessarily, but it helped in the sense of getting to know each other on the court.”

Fostering some familiarity proved necessary for a Clippers’ team that lost seven seniors, including two starters, from a team that finished 19-5 and reached the state tournament for the first time in program history last season.

Stepping up, and in some cases resuming, valuable leadership roles this season have been Clubb, junior post player Morgan Etscheidt and returning senior starter Emily Sly.

All three present a potential height mismatch for many opponents.

Throw in four-year starting guard Whitney Traetow, and the leadership positions are in place for the Clippers.

“We are a lot closer, friendship wise,” said Traetow, who scored 11 points Friday night. “So, it is really easy to work together. Our bigs have definitely grown and we have outside shooters, new shooters.”

Some new faces emerging in the CCA lineup made valuable contributions Friday night. Sophomore guard Olivia Miller, who missed almost all of her freshman season due to injury, started and scored 10 points, including eight in a first half that saw the Clippers’ lead balloon to as large as 26 points.

Junior reserve guard Kaylin Rotzoll added seven points, including a four-point play in which she was fouled as she drilled a 3-point basket and then converted the ensuing free throw attempt. Gabrielle Bedford added six points off the bench in an expanded role for the senior.

“Maybe from last year, we are looking to get the ball maybe more inside,” CCA Coach P.J. Sweeney said. “As far as our scoring, our scoring is probably going to be a little more balanced. We are not going to have that kid that maybe scores in the mid-20s or the 30s. We are going to have those kids that score 10, 12, 13, 14 points. Playing a little bit different game of basketball. Inside out is what I tell them. Inside out is going to make your life a lot easier.”

Solon (1-2) was led by freshman Callie Levin, who backed up her 19-point scoring average through two games with 20 of her game-high 24 points in the second half.

Both teams are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday.

CCA (1-0) is slated to host Maquoketa, while the Spartans will face its first unranked opponent in four games when they entertain Williamsburg.

“This win itself will push us even farther in practice,” Clubb said.

Solon                                2  13  17 12  –  44

Clear Creek Amana   15 23  13 12  –  63

SOLON (44) – Claire LaDage 2 0-0 6, Ava Stebral 3 0-0 6, Hailey Miller 0 0-0 0, Kaia Holtkamp 2 0-0 4, MaKinley Levin 1 0-0 3, Callie Levin 9 1-3 24, Jada Buffington 0 0-0 0, Hilary Wilson 0 1-2, 1, Ellyse Holubar 0 0-2 0, Totals 17 2-7 44.

CLEAR CREEK AMANA (63) – Whitney Traetow 4 2-3 11, Gabrielle Bedford 2 2-2 6, Kaylin Rotzoll 2 1-3 7, Olivia Miller 4 0-0 10, Dayna Wichhart 0-0 0, Bailey Olerich 0 0-1 0, Haley Tackaberry 0 0-0 0, Calia Clubb 5 4-7 14, Emily Sly 2 0-0 4, Ava Locklear 1 2-2 4, Morgan Etscheidt 2 3-6 7, Totals 22 14-24 63.

Three-point goals – Solon 6 (C. Levin 3, LaDage 2, M. Levin 1); Clear Creek Amana 5 (Miller 2, Rotzoll 2, Traetow 1). Rebounds – Solon 30 (Holubar 8); Clear Creek Amana 38 (Clubb 16). Total fouls – Solon 21, Clear Creek Amana 13. Fouled out – None.

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