Cowgirls rally by Bulldogs

HAMPTON – The Bulldog girls’ basketball team led 36-32 heading into the fourth quarter, but Clarion-Goldfield-Dows started hitting shots and outscored coach Miranda Valley’s team 20-7 in the final eight minutes to escape Hampton with a 52-43 North Central Conference win.

Up to the final stanza, it was a strongest overall team effort for the Bulldogs thus far this season.

“I was happy,” coach Valley said. “It came down to them making more shots in the fourth quarter. Everything they started throwing up was going in and we were getting good shots and it wasn’t.

“I am super proud of the way they came in and competed tonight, they outworked them. I thought we wanted it more. I’m very happy to end the regular season on that note, going in (against Clear Lake). Obviously, we wanted a win, but I saw very positive things they did. That was a good effort.”

Six of the seven Bulldogs who saw playing time scored and all contributed in some way.

It was the culmination of a whole season of experience in a very solid North Central Conference that had as many as three teams ranked in Class 3A to start the season. CGD (17-3) recently dropped out.

“The only way to get experience is to get out there and play,” coach Valley said. “It’s going to look a little rough at first and these girls have got a lot of minutes under them and they’ve made some mistakes, learned from them. That’s definitely experience coming to the forefront.”

Lauren Meader led all scorers with 20 points. Jadyn Jondle, who had just two points at halftime, had 11 of her 15 in the fourth quarter alone.

This game was a good final tune-up for the Class 3A post-season in which the Bulldogs face Class 3A No. 2 Clear Lake later on Saturday, Feb. 13.

“All you can do when you get that kind of match-up is go out and play,” coach Valley said. “You’re going to make mistakes, but you go out and compete and get your minutes and hope you shoot lights-out and make things happen.”

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 52, Bulldogs 43

Bulldogs (5-15, 3-10)– Alana Johnson 2-4 0-0 4, Lauren Meader 8-13 3-3 20, Avery Hanson 3-16 1-1 8, Gina Schmit 2-6 0-0 6, Faith Grover 1-5 0-0 3, Kasey Springer 0-0 0-0 0, Skyler Valley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 17-46 4-4 43.

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (17-3, 11-2)– Jadyn Jondle 7-12 0-0 15, Raven Kinnetz 2-9 1-1 6, Nicole Waters 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Conlon 0-1 0-0 0, Kendall Lienemann 2-4 0-0 4, Alaina Friesleben 0-0 0-0 0, Lexie Lane 5-11 1-2 12, Emma Keller 3-5 3-3 9, Morgan Middleton 3-7 0-3 6. Totals 22-49 3-9 52.

Humboldt  11   12     9   20      -   52

Bulldogs      6   16   14     7      -   43

Three-point goals– CGD 3-10 (Jondle 1-2, Kinnetz 1-3, Lane 1-5); H-D 5 (Schmit 2-5, Meader 1-3, Grover 1-4, Hanson 1-8). Rebounds– CGD 26 (Lane 7, Jondle 6, Kinnetz 4, Middleton 2, Lienemann); H-D 25 (Johnson 6, Meader 5, Hanson 4, Schmit 4, Grover 4, Valley 2).Assists– CGD 17 (Lane 7, Kinnetz 4, Jondle 3, Middleton 2, Lane); H-D 5 (Meader 5). Steals– CGD 8 (Kinnetz 3, Jondle 2, Keller 2, Lienemann); H-D 6 (Meader 3, Johnson, Hanson, Grover). Blocks – CGD 1 (Keller), H-D, None. Total fouls – CGD 10, H-D 9. Fouled out – None.