Girls’ Basketball

Clinton 42, Sherburne-Earlville 39

CLINTON – Clinton saw Sherburne-Earlville erase a 12-point first-half deficit, but converted two baskets in the final minute to hold on for the victory Monday night..

S-E’s Briana Vibbard hit one free throw to give her club a 37-36 edge with just over a minute to play. On the subsequent possession, Clinton’s Cassie Dennison buried a three-pointer – her lone field goal the game – with 51 seconds putting her club in the lead for keeps.

S-E turned the ball over coming out of a timeout, and Clinton added a fast-break layup to close out the Marauders. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, and we turned it over at key times,” said S-E coach Karen Mulligan, whose club dropped to 4-1 on the season. “I was proud of the way we battled back. We got down early and could have hung our heads, but were able to tie the game and take the lead.”

Cassie Beaver had 25 points for the Marauders, her season-high performance, but it was Clinton’s defense on S-E guards Jordan VanAlthuis and Sierra Morris that may have made the difference. VanAlthuis and Morris averaged a combined 21 points per game entering the contest, but were held to four total points. “Our guards didn’t shoot it that well, but you have to credit the way Clinton played defense,” Mulligan said.