Clear Creek basketball wrapped up its season at the Mountain League Tournament.
The seventh-grade Lady Cats were the only team to reach the postseason, and their 9-2 regular season record secured the league’s No. 2 seed headed into the tournament. The Cats met No. 3 seeded Pickens in the opening round last Wednesday in Dahlonega.
The teams battled scoring droughts, but the Dragonettes ended up being more productive offensivly. Pickens secured a six-point lead by halftime, and the Cats were never able to overtake Pickens in a 33-28 loss.
“Both teams struggled offensively early on,” said coach Les McDaniel. “We didn’t score until the final minute of the first quarter. Then, the Dragonettes went scoreless the second quarter.”
Pickens took a 12-6 lead into the halftime locker room, and the Dragonettes added 14 points to their tally in the third.
“We just couldn’t get anything to fall, and sometimes you have nights like that,” McDaniel said. “During the (holiday) break, we encouraged the girls to keep shooting and to shoot with confidence. Despite our offensive woes, our defense was great and we were only down six at halftime.”
CCMS trailed 26-15 entering the fourth, and while the Cats continued to score points, the Dragonettes added just enough to hold off Clear Creek for a five-point win.
“We were able to outpace the Dragonettes in the fourth, but the spirited comeback ran out of time,” McDaniel said. “We were disappointed that we didn’t advance, but the girls had a great season. Many of them are sixth graders, so the future looks bright for Lady Cat basketball.”
Scoring for the Cats were Mary Grace Jones with nine followed by Makenna Taylor (eight), Rosie Everette (five), Lola Howard (four) and Kensey Pritchett (two).
Inclement weather spoiled the end of the eighth-grade’s season. The final two games were canceled, and with the league tournament on the horizon, the Cats’ 4-7 record left them on the outside looking in as the top-four teams competed for the championship.
“Despite the disappointment of not reaching the tournament, I’m proud of the development the eighth-grade team made over the course of the season both offensively and defensively,” McDaniel said. “I look forward to seeing what they can do when they rejoin their prior teammates that are now at the high school.”