Cedarbrook’s Clutter claims MVP honors

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Back in June during the Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League girls draft, Cedarbrook head coach Mariah Ward described just how easy of a decision it was to take Trinity’s Alyssa Clutter with the No. 1 overall pick. 

“It was a no-brainer for sure,” Ward said. “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.”

A year after being named a first-team all star as a member of Edward Jones, Clutter didn’t disappoint in her first and only season with Cedarbrook. 

The senior-to-be averaged nearly 23 points per game in seven regular season games during the summer and helped lead Cedarbrook to an appearance in the MVISBL girls championship game Wednesday. 

Clutter, who was a part of a massive turnaround that saw Cedarbrook go from being winless last summer to the division’s lone 10-win team this summer, was rewarded for her efforts by being named the Melanie Greco Player of the Year. 

A unanimous choice for the award, Clutter became the second Trinity player in a row to capture player of the year honors. AMD Industries alumnus Kaylin Venick won the award last summer. 

“I’m really thankful that these coaches saw me in this perspective and respected me enough to give me this honor,” said Clutter, who also committed to continue her academic and basketball careers at the University of Northern Alabama on Wednesday. “I think there are a lot of great players in this league and I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of them, so this means a lot.”

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