Cedarbrook takes Clutter

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

For the second consecutive year, Alyssa Clutter was selected with the first overall pick in the Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League girls draft Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Rostraver Township. 

First-year Cedarbrook head coach Mariah Ward took the Trinity senior with the top pick after Clutter elected to re-enter the draft. Clutter, a 5-9 guard, was taken first in last year’s draft by Edward Jones. 

“It was a no-brainer for sure,” Ward said Thursday. “She has everything I was looking for in a first-round pick. Her intensity, her confidence and the way she moves up and down the floor is really great, and I look forward to having her.”

Clutter was the clear-cut choice for Ward at No. 1, despite the fact that this summer will be her last eligible season in the league. 

For Cedarbrook, Clutter will be counted upon to be a leader as well as a legitimate scoring threat. Clutter finished second in the league last season with 145 total points. She averaged 14.5 points per game while also ranking as one of the league’s top passers. She finished the summer with 33 total assists.

“Having the first pick, I just wanted to go with who was the best available,” Ward said. “Her defensive intensity was crazy (in tryouts) and she was right up on you. She provided pure pressure, and that’s what I really liked.” 

Clutter will also give Cedarbrook a talented one-two punch with Our Lady of Sacred Heart’s Katie Hoff already on the roster. Hoff averaged 12.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last summer. She finished fifth in scoring and was the league’s second best rebounder. 

“I think it will take the first couple of games for them to get to know each other, but I think they’ll end up clicking really well,” Ward said. “I think Hoff will be really strong on the block and Alyssa will be able to give it to her a lot.”

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