Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Perfect.

With an exclamation point.

Top-ranked Clear Creek Amana capped an unbeaten season and claimed the first state title in program history on Saturday with a dominating 43-25 win over second-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock in the Class 4A title game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The win capped a 26-0 season for Clear Creek Amana and a dominating state tournament in which Clippers outscored opponents by a combined 58 points.

“It’s so exciting to be able to finally reach this,” Clear Creek Amana senior Ava Locklear said. “There aren’t really words to describe this. I can’t believe it’s real and I can’t believe we did this. We’ve been working for it all year so it feels amazing.”

Locklear starred again on Saturday with 11 points and a 4A state tournament single-game tying 19 rebounds on her way to earning all-tournament team captain.

Averie Lower had a game-high 17 points and Bliss Beck had 11 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots as Clear Creek Amana handed Waverly-Shell Rock (26-1) its only loss.

“Over the past two year’s in basketball and volleyball we’ve done quarterfinals, semifinals and runner-up and to finally get a state championship that’s an amazing way to end it,” Beck said. “We have an amazing group of girls, we all get along so well, it’s a great way to end it.”

Clear Creek Amana ended an impressive season with yet another dominating effort in Des Moines.

The Clippers never trailed in the title game and held the lead for more than 30 minutes.

In three state-tournament wins Clear Creek Amana outscored opponents 161-103.

“We knew what we knew going into the tournament and going into each game and I think we executed really well,” Lower said. “Our defense was great this tournament and our defense translated to our offense.”

Lower and Beck joined Locklear on the all-tournament team.

All three had their moments on Saturday but it was the Clipper defense that shined brightest on the state’s biggest stage.

“Averie hit some big threes, we got some putbacks and we just played an amazing game,” Sweeney said. “But it all started with our defense.”

Clear Creek Amana entered the title game allowing a 4A-best 31.8 points per game.

The Clippers didn’t let the Go-Hawks get to that total on Saturday.

Clear Creek Amana held Waverly-Shell Rock to 14 percent shooting from the field, seven made field goals and forced 10 turnovers.

“Our defense was there,” Sweeney said. “We gave up 30 (points), 48 and 25 and that’s going to win you a lot of games. We held them to 14 percent shooting, that’s going to win you a lot of games.”

Waverly-Shell Rock didn’t scored more than seven points in a quarter in the title game.

The 25 points for Waverly-Shell Rock were 16 fewer than their previous season-low of 41 which came in a semifinal win over third-ranked Sioux City Heelan.

Clear Creek Amana blocked 10 shots as Locklear had four blocks and outrebounded the Go-Hawks 40-33.

Waverly-Shell Rock leading scorer Katelyn Eggena was held to four points on 2-of-20 shooting and freshman Lizzy Frazell who averages 10.6 per game didn’t score.

“We rely on our defense for sure,” Beck said. “This game we locked down on defense and that’s what really allowed us to be successful.”

With 19 rebounds in the title game Locklear finished with 43 rebounds in the tournament which set a new 4A tournament record.

Her 19 rebounds in the title game ties the single-game 4A tournament record set by Jess Schaben of Harlan in 2013.

“I think it shows we can play as a team and we can play with anyone,” Locklear said. “It shows that we can look at any opponent we have an adjust to them and win.”

Lower scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the opening quarter as Clear Creek Amana took a 12-7 lead.

The Clippers closed the first half on a 6-0 run to take a 24-12 halftime lead and scored the first eight points of the second half to take its biggest lead of the game at 32-12.

“I just knew I had to stay calm and my teammates were finding me,” Lower said. “Shots were going in and that’s always great.”

Lena Evans had four points off the bench while Sam Shrage had four rebounds for the Clippers.

“Ava and Bliss and Averie that trio were great this week and you have other players,” Sweeney said. “Sam Schrage understands her role and Kaylee is that point guard for us that can facilitate and be that leader and then we have some reserves and it’s just a tremendous group.”

Waverly-Shell Rock                7   5    6   7  –  25

Clear Creek Amana              12  12  12  7  –  43                            

Waverly-Shell Rock  (25) – Lizzy Frazel 0-3 0-0 0, Brenna Bodensteiner 1-6 7-7 10, Sydney Bienemann 1-5 0-0 2, Katelyn Eggena 2-20 0-0 4, Emma Thompson 2-9 3-6 7, Addie Ott 0-1 0-0 0, Megan Heyer 0-2 0-0 0, Addie Kruse 0-1 0-0 0, Brittny Bodensteiner 1-2 0-0 3, Totals 7-49 10-13 33.

Clear Creek Amana (43) – Kaylee Stratton 0- 0-0 0, Averie Lower 6-11 1-2 17, Sam Schrage 0-5 0-0 0, Bliss Beck 5-8 1-1 11, Ava Locklear 4-12 3-4 19, Lena Evans 2-5 0-0 4, Kennedy Stratton 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 17-45 5-7 43.

3-point field goals – W-SR 1-8 (Frazell 0-2, Bodensteiner 1-4, Heyer 0-2), CCA 4-10 (Lower 4-7, Schrage 0-2, Ken. Stratton 0-1). Rebounds – W-SR 33 (Thompson 10), CCA 40 (Locklear 19). Assists – W-SR 2 (Frazell 1, Eggena 1), CCA 7 (Locklear 3). Turnovers – W-SR 10, CCA 13. Total fouls – W-SR 4, CCA 9. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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