The Clinton Lady Maroons opened play in the CIC Tournament with an early-morning matchup against Shelbyville, as the game time was moved up with snow moving into the area. The Maroons stepped off the bus ready to compete, knowing the Rams were hungry for revenge after falling to Clinton earlier in the season.
The opening quarter was tightly contested, with Shelbyville’s Kenzie Jones knocking down several shots to keep her team close. For Clinton, Clara Dempsey provided a spark with her energy and scoring, helping the Maroons slowly gain control.
By halftime, Clinton had built a 29–15 lead, thanks in large part to the physical and relentless play of Lilah Cluver in the paint. Cluver took plenty of contact throughout the game but continued to battle, getting back up every time and producing key points and rebounds for the Maroons.
In the second half, Clinton looked like the team that has been rolling all season. The Maroons pushed the tempo, converted on fast breaks, and created turnovers with aggressive defense. Cluver was everywhere, cleaning up misses and scoring multiple second-chance points to extend the lead.
In the fourth quarter, Carly Anderson caught fire, drilling two three-pointers in a row to put the game out of reach. Clinton’s balanced scoring and defensive pressure proved too much for Shelbyville to overcome.
When the final horn sounded, the Maroons had secured a convincing 58–28 victory, extending their winning streak to 16 games in a row and making a strong statement to open the CIC Tournament.
Lilah Cluver talks 30 point win over Shelbyville
Lilah Cluver says AND ONE
Avery Smith knock down 3 pointer
Averie Fatheree hits the triple