Cedarbrook finishes off perfect regular season

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com

Alyssa Clutter poured in a game-high 26 points and hit four late free throws to help lift Cedarbrook past Dax Thomas State Farm, 54-51, in Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League girls division play Wednesday evening.

Clutter, who scored 15 of her points in the second half of the win, hit a pair of foul shots after an Iyanna Wade steal to give Cedarbrook (9-0) a 52-51 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game.

State Farm (7-3) had a chance to go ahead late, but a miss by Lydia Zoglmann allowed Cedarbrook to regain possession with 23 seconds left.

Clutter, a Trinity senior, went on to hit two more shots from the charity stripe in guiding Cedarbrook to the win at Marx’s Court Time Sports Center.

“Alyssa just always comes through for us,” Cedarbrook head coach Mariah Ward said. “She knocked those free throws down against adversity, so I’m happy with that.”

Clutter’s offensive output was backed up by the strong play of Wade, who was all over the floor for Cedarbrook. The presence of the Clairton freshman was felt moreso in the second half when she scored nine of her 13 points.

“She is really playing like a senior on the court,” Ward said of Wade. “When I need her and I call on her, she’s always there for me. Tonight she played with a cape and an ‘S’ on her chest. It was unbelievable.”

Katie Hoff, a 5-11 forward from Carlynton, was Cedarbrook’s third player in double figures. She netted 10 points and added 11 rebounds for the double-double.

“She was dominant on the boards and those rebounds are crucial in tight games like that,” Ward said. “Whenever she can pull them down like that, I’m not worried about the scoring. I just want her to get those rebounds and we’ll take it down the floor from there.”

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