Clear Creek Amana sophomore Lena Evans delivered with her fifth 3-pointer of the game with about 10 seconds left.
Mount Vernon tried to answer, but lost its first game of the season. No. 2 (4A) Clear Creek Amana beat No. 2 (3A) Mount Vernon, 50-47, in a battle of unbeaten Wamac teams Thursday, Jan. 11.
The game was moved from Tuesday because of the snowstorm. That gave Mustang Coach Nate Sanderson time to watch more film.
Because of that, the Mustangs decided to utilize a box-and-1 defense.
“They shredded our defense last year, just in our base stuff,” Sanderson said. “We haven’t shown it. And we thought, there’s nothing to lose.
“We can always get out of it if it doesn’t work.”
It did work, for the most part. Senior Ava Locklear was held to eight points and sophomore Averie Lower was limited to three points. Those two came in averaging 12.6 and 18.0 points per game, respectively.
“We got what we wanted,” sophomore guard Courtney Franck said. “We held their top scorer to a low amount. Which is what we wanted. I think we did a good job of getting what we could.”
But sometimes when a door closes, a window opens. Evans came in and hit five 3-pointers off the bench, including the game-winner.
“With a team like this, we can’t guard everybody,” Sanderson said. “They’ve got capable shooters. That’s why they are as good as they are. And they are good.”
Mount Vernon (11-1) seemed to have the upper hand coming out of halftime. CCA (10-0) led 29-28 at intermission, but the Mustangs went on an 8-0 run, fueled by a 3-pointer from Courtney Franck, a three-point play by Chloe Meester and a layup by Taylor Franck.
That made it a 7-point lead, 36-29. The Mustangs still led at the quarter break, 39-37.
“It felt like we got stuck on 39 forever,” Sanderson said. “A couple turnovers let them get back into it, credit to their defense.”
After a scoreless streak around the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth, Mount Vernon finally got a 3-pointer from Peyton Simpson to make it 42-41 CCA.
Sydney Huber tired the game 45-45 with a lay-up with about 2 minutes to play. Locklear hit a shot at one end, then Taylor Franck tied the game at 47-47 at the other.
That set up Evans’ game-winner. Taylor Franck put up an off-balance 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it missed.
The Mustangs felt everything went well … except the final score.
“This is what we wanted,” Sanderson said. “We wanted to limit their top players. We wanted to be there at the end. We did those things. The game was pretty even. It just comes down to one shot there.
“We should feel pretty good about going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams, if not the best team, on this side of the state.
“Still, we’ve got some growing to do and we’ll learn from this.”
Huber led the Mustangs with 14 points, and was followed by Taylor Franck (8), Courtney Franck (7), Chloe Meester (7) and Simpson (6).
“I mean, I’d take this over our Regina (No. 4 in 2A) win,” Courtney Franck said. “And we that by 30-something. I think even though we lost by three, it shows that we’ve grown.”
The Mustangs had a game scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16, at No. 1 Solon. Then they host West Delaware on Friday and No. 10 (4A) Marion on Saturday.
Mount Vernon senior Peyton Simpson fights for the ball with Clear Creek Amana sophomore Kennedy Stratton on Thursday, Jan. 11, in Mount Vernon.