Lady Indian adjustments lead to win

Clarke girls basketball (3-7) knocked off Albia (3-8) Saturday behind defensive adjustments which led to the 52-44 win.

Albia started out the game hot on the offensive end, knocking down three 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Lady Dees finished with six 3-pointers in the game.

“Props to Albia, they were playing significantly harder than us (to start),” Clarke head coach Dan Schmidt said. “I wouldn’t say our energy was bad, but it clearly wasn’t up to the level we needed to play at. Really the biggest problem for us was execution. We didn’t execute well enough for us to score.”

Clarke’s offense struggled to gain its footing, turning the ball over consistently throughout the first quarter.

Albia’s press caused problems for Clarke’s press break. The Lady Dees were able to capitalize on the strong defense, taking a 15-8 lead throughout at the end of the first quarter.

Clarke quickly regained its footing at the start of the second quarter. Ali Henry started out with back-to-back free throws. The Lady Indians’ first five points of the quarter came from the free-throw line.

The offense began by trying to get the ball into the post and moved to attacking the baseline with Ali and Tory Henry controlling the pace.

Ali Henry led all Clarke scorers with 18 points. Tory Henry scored eight points.

“Her and her sister have both had games where they’ve kind of taken that role,” Schmidt said on the offensive impact of the Henry sisters. “They’ve really been aggressive trying to score the ball. The best part about them, as freshmen, is they’re really starting to believe that they belong out there. They 100% do.”

With points on the board to start, Clarke’s defense started to click as well, holding Albia scoreless, after a 3-pointer to begin the quarter, until Clarke took a 19-18 lead at 3:05. Two free throws from Kaity Donaldson gave Clarke its first lead of the day.

Albia was able to tie the game with a score of its own, but the Lady Dees only scored seven points to Clarke’s 14 in the second quarter.

Clarke’s zone defense continued to pressure Albia and force tough shots throughout the second half.

“I think the biggest thing for us was, coming in, they showed their shooters could make shots, so we had to start respecting that a little more than the start of the game,” Schmidt said. “Once we saw that the hard way a few times, we were able to adjust. I think we closed out on those shooters a little better.”

Clarke’s offensive attack slowed throughout the beginning of the second half, but a combination free throws, inside scores and mid-range shots gave the Lady Indians a 32-29 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Clarke finished the game 21-23 from the free-throw line.

Ali Henry was able to lead the offense as Albia was able to hit outside shots in the final frame. She scored six of her 18 points in the fourth quarter. Ali and Tory Henry, along with Donaldson, hit free-throws down the stretch as Clarke entered the bonus.

Schmidt said the ability to hit free throws late showed the mental toughness has progressed, being able to understand that Clarke should be in the game and win the game.

Clarke 52, Albia 44

ALBIA (44) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 14 9-12 44. Halle Hindman 6 4-6 20, Danica Workman 3 4-4 11, Allison Major 2 0-0 6, Sophie Waber 1 1-2 3, Jenny Kelley 1 0-0 2, Ayana Thomas 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 7 (Hindman 4, Major 2, Workman 1). Team fouls — 23. Fouled out — Waber.

CLARKE (52) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 14 21-32 52. Ali Henry 3 12-18 18, Kaitlyn Halsband 4 0-0 9, Josey Dunbar 4 1-2 9, Tory Henry 1 5-6 8, Katie Donaldson 1 3-6 5, Kiaya Dunbar 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 23 (Halsband, Dunbar, Tory Henry). Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.