CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In a crucial District 10-AAA showdown, Clarksville girls basketball hosted Northeast Friday in search of a meaningful win to help jumpstart a second-half surge to its season.
CHS strung together quality looks at the basket down the stretch in a back-and-forth final quarter of play to win it 48-42.
Despite finding themselves down 12-0 in a blink of an eye, the Lady Wildcats weathered the early storm, clawing back to make it 14-14 at the end of the opening quarter.
Clarksville girls basketball coach Brian Rush didn’t believe it was rust his team had to shake off in the early going.
“I just thought Northeast came out and played well early,” Rush said. “It took us a minute to adjust to their quickness. It’s hard to replicate that on the practice floor. They made their shots early and it put us in a hole. I was really proud of our girls to be down 12-0 and not flinch.”
Mya Collins was big for the Lady Wildcats inside. Rush shared his thoughts on the mismatches she caused for Northeast’s defense on the night.
“We knew going into the game, that’s where we had an advantage,” Rush said. “We needed her to step up. At halftime we really had a talk with her and the team about getting the ball to her more in the post. I thought the kids did a much better job finding her and she made key shots for us down the stretch.”
*Photographer: Michael Rios
Injuries have plagued Clarksville for a majority of the year, losing both Sydney Weatherford and Destiny Hill for the season.
With another key player exiting the contest Friday in Maddie Berner, Rush’s message to his team moving forward remains the same.
“It’s next man up,” Rush said. “Our season has been riddled with injuries. All three girls have been starters for us. You’re trying to fill gaps and girls are stepping into new roles. We’re asking for others to step in and play big minutes and they did that tonight.”
Collins had a game-high 16 points while Nariah Nicholson scored nine points and Alexis Wimberly added eight points for the Lady Wildcats.
Emoni McCray led the Lady Eagles with 13 points followed by Cierra Bowser with 12 points. Kahlia Flowers also finished in double figures for Northeast with 10 points.
Clarksville (6-7, 4-3) travels to take on Kenwood at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Northeast (10-7, 5-3) will play Cane Ridge at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Bowling Green Classic.