Savages shrug off Bears to cap undefeated week

NORTH ENGLISH - The lead seemed to be slipping away for good this time. 

With just 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter English Valleys freshman guard Anna Luers was sent to the line. She made the first shot to tie the game at 42. 

The second shot was as true as the first and the Bears were able to recapture the lead 43-42 with just a mere 20 seconds left on the clock.

After Sigourney inbounded the pass and moved past the timing line Savage head coach Kaylee Weber called the final timeout to draw what she had hoped would be the final play of the game. 

Sigourney tried to get the play drawn up to go to the inside and try to draw a foul for the chance, at the very least, free throws. 

English Valleys wasn’t going to let the inside shot stay open. Instead Sigourney adjusted and gave the ball to Brynn Clarahan for a long range two pointer. She was able to draw a foul and make the shot. 

At the line for a chance to make it a two-point lead instead of a one point advantage, Clarahan’s free throw was too powerful and it bounced off the front of the rim. All of the players in the key came together to try and grab the rebound. Instead, the ball rolled off their hands and on the floor right back to Clarahan. 

She picked up the loose ball and drove into the lane determined to either get fouled or sink the layup. 

The freshman was fouled before she was able to make the shot. At the free throw line Clarahan made both shots, and extended the Sigourney lead to three. 

“I saw a lot of me in the closing minutes of the game,” Weber said about Clarahan. “Right now she is my playmaker. Tonight she made the play that won us the game.”

English Valleys had one last chance to at least tie the game and send it to overtime, but the pass down court was blocked and Sigourney was able to hold off for the 46-43 victory, their second win in two games on the week. 

“For her, as a freshman, to be able to have a game like that in a rivalry game and get the game-winning basket is absolutely huge,” Weber said. “Granted the whole game wasn’t just Brynn scoring, but it is insane for a freshman to have a game like she had. I really can’t thank my whole team enough for the win tonight, even the players that were on the bench, every single player worked really hard.”

For most of the game it was uncertain if the play of the Savages would be enough. In the first half English Valleys had all of the momentum, and the added luxury of being able to play most of their stars the entire half. 

The whole game was called tightly by the referees, and in the first half, Sigourney had to sit a couple of their players because of foul troubles. 

English Valleys started the game off shooting well, and they were able to retire to halftime with a 24-19 lead. 

The Savages came out of halftime determined to turn the game around, and they did, scoring the first six points of the new half to take the lead. English Valleys recovered from their slow start and eventually retook the lead. 

The third quarter was tied near the end, but free throws by Josephine Moore and Bailey Gretter helped the Savages pull ahead. Then, in the closing seconds Clarahan was able to get a steal, and score the basket to give the Savages a 33-29 lead going into the final quarter. 

“The first half we just played really sloppy, and the girls knew it,” Weber said. “The girls weren’t happy at halftime, they knew I wasn’t happy, and I’m just proud of them for adapting to the game. It can be really hard to make in-game adjustments, but I’m very proud of them for powering through the first half.”

Clarahan led all scorers on Friday night with 20 points. Josephine Moore added 15 points for the Savages. Addy Fineran and Bailey Gretter both scored four points. Ava Fisch scored three points. 

English Valleys was led by Anna Luers and Ava Gehrking, both finished the game with 12 points each. Aubrey Achenbach had six points. Kailor Lown finished with five points. Kaylynn Caster added five points as well. Addison Achenbach finished with three points.     

Friday’s win was the second win of the week for the Savages. 

In a Dec. 10 game the Savages were able to win 67-15 over Belle Plaine. 

The Savages were dominant on defense in that game holding the Palinsmen to just five first half points. Sigourney led 35-5 at halftime. 

The Savages scored 31 points in the second half, while holding Belle Plaine to 10 points.

Clarahan led the Savages with 21 points scored. Moore finished with 13 points. Ava Fisch was able to score 12 points. 

Bailey Gretter finished with 11 points. Adalynne Tremmel had six points. Charli Smothers and Ashtyn Tish finished with two points each. 

The Savages are 3-1 on the season.