Wellington girl complete undefeated regular season with tough win over Clearwater; boys lose
Ali Zeka leads the charge against Clearwater. (Photos by Eric Rinehart).
by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington Crusader girls team completed an undefeated regular season Thursday, beating Clearwater 58-52 at home. The teams went to overtime earlier in the season, and Clearwater did not easily fade into the night on Thursday. The boys would lose 56-48.
Wellington girls led by a point going into the final quarter and put on a 13-4 run to start the final stanza. Clearwater then had one final surge and cut the deficit to three with a minute left, but Wellington scored six unanswered points to make the final margin.
Wellington head girls coach Eric Adams said this team is a special group and has been great to work with. Going undefeated in the regular season is a special thing, and now they will look to the playoffs that begin at home next Tuesday.
“This has been a great group. The coaches coach hard, and they respond well,” he said. “We do a great job of sharing the ball. We say it is our shot, not one player’s shot,” Adams said.
The Crusaders took care of each other Thursday with different players leading charges at different times and four players scoring in double figures. Senior Ali Zeka had 14 points while her younger sister Britt had 13. Valerie Norwood had 12 and Airalyn Frame scored 10.
Clearwater held a height advantage and dominated the boards, but Wellington adjusted by getting turnovers. The Lady Dukes turned up the defensive intensity, especially in the second half, and that allowed them to pull away.
Adams said this is the best defensive team he has had at the school.
“They have a lot of mental toughness, quickness and grit,” he said.
In the first quarter, Norwood had two three-pointers. Ashlyn Gerten added another three and scored two more baskets.
Wellington seniors Airalyn Frame and Ali Zeka give each other a hug in their final high school regular season game.
Elizabeth Tjaden had two threes for Clearwater, and Clearwater led 14-13 at the end of the period.
Frame had back-to-back three-pointers and put in an offensive rebound to lead a surge by Wellington early in the second quarter. The Crusaders built a 24-16 lead, but Clearwater stormed back. Wellington led 26-22 at the half.
Wellington had five three-pointers in the first half. In the second half, Clearwater took away the three by bringing its defense to the perimeter more. Wellington adjusted by going inside more and kicking out passes for short shots.
Wellington managed two three-pointers in the third quarter. Britt Zeka had a three and scored seven of Wellington’s points in the quarter. Clearwater had two threes and went 8-8 from the foul line in the third. Heading into the final quarter Wellington was holding on to a one-point lead.
For Clearwater, Taylee Hatten had 16 and Tjaden had 15.
Wellington will be the top seed heading into the postseason. The Class 4A bracket will be released by the KSHSAA on Saturday.
Logan Swingle vs. Clearwater.
The Wellington boys came up on the wrong end of a 56-48 score against Clearwater Thursday after hanging close throughout the game. The largest margin was at the end, but Wellington could never get over the hump.
Wellington cut the lead to two with just over two minutes left but could not convert when they had the ball. Two times after that the Crusaders had turnovers when they trailed by two.
Heading into the final quarter Clearwater led by eight. Cope Henry hit a three to start the fourth quarter. Wellington managed a rally hitting free throws and making some good defensive plays down the stretch. The Crusaders managed just one more field goal in the final quarter but made their foul shots and steadily cut the deficit.
In the second half, Clearwater went to its inside game. Brett Gibbs scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, and a lot of those came at the free-throw line.
In the first half, Clearwater had five three-pointers and managed to stay in front by five or six points. Clearwater had no threes in the second half as Wellington’s defense adjusted.
Korbin Jones led Wellington with 10 points.
For Clearwater, Trenton Hastings had 17, with four threes in the first half. Mason Seiter added 10. RJ Clift and Montel Tate each had nine, and Banks Hinshaw scored eight.
