Wellington girls roll past Clearwater with 19-0 second-quarter explosion
Kylan Gregory vs. Clearwater.
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow – This may be tough to prove. But the Wellington girls may have played its best quarter of basketball in its history. The Crusaders would blank Clearwater 19-0 in the second quarter en route to an impressive 56-34 victory.
It may have been superlative, but Wellington head girls’ basketball coach Eric Adams may agree.
“I know it was the best defensive effort I have seen since becoming head coach here,” Adams said. “I didn’t know we held Clearwater scoreless in the second quarter until someone told me at halftime.
He continued:
“The girls had fire in their eyes in the locker room at the half. They had that look they wanted to go right back out there and get more.”
Wellington took what looked like a 20-17 barn-burner at the end of the first quarter and made it a 39-17 laugher by halftime. Yes, Wellington girls are accustomed to going on huge 19-point runs, but not against teams like Clearwater – a team that has perpetually given the Lady Dukes’ fits in years past. And not in their gym, which Wellington traditionally has trouble getting the ball into the net.
Clearwater’s Carli Carlson probably summed up the view of her team during Wellington’s tenacious second quarter.
For the first quarter, it looked like that kind of game. The Crusaders and Indians played even Steven for the first four minutes before Wellington went on an 8-0 run to lead 20-13. But Clearwater scored the last two baskets to make it 20-17 at the quarter’s end.
Then Wellington exploded. Using a tenacious trapping defense, Clearwater could barely get the ball downcourt, let alone get off a shot. Both Britt Zeka and Ashlyn Gerten scored 8 apiece in the second quarter alone.
In the third and fourth quarters, Wellington cooled down. It would tread water the rest of the way, which was all it needed to do against the talented Indians — picking up a 22-point victory.
Zeka led the Crusaders with 17 points. Valerie Norwood had 15, Ashlyn Gerten 11, and Kylan Gregory 11.
Wellington now hosts Collegiate and Andale next week. The Wellington-Andale next Friday at home is lining up to be a dandy between two undefeated top-10 teams.
Kami Reichenberger v. Clearwater
Wellington 56 Clearwater 34
Wellington — 20 19 12 5 — 56
Clearwater — 17 0 9 8 — 34
Wellington: Zeka 17, Norwood 15, Gerten 11, Gregory 11, Reichenberger 1, Nance 1. Total: 16 (5) 9-15 56. Clearwater: Tjaden 11, Hampton 11, Carlson 9, Berlin 2, Clevanger 1. Total: 6 (7) 1-2 34.
