Clyde uses big third quarter to top Perkins in SBC Lake play

CLYDE — Clyde was doing enough at halftime to be ahead. The Fliers took a two-point lead into the break, but kicked it up a notch in the third quarter. Clyde rode the momentum of a big third quarter to top Perkins 47-29 in Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division action. "We just made some minor adjustments," Fliers coach Brian Heck said. "We didn't have school today and didn't have a JV game. We had to come in and play right away. It showed in the first half. We were doing some things that were just sloppy. We made some adjustments at halftime and they executed beautifully." Clyde (13-7, 3-5 SBC Lake) led 18-16 at halftime, but two scores from Annmarie Davis and one from Ariah Farrar quickly gave the Fliers a 24-16 edge. Allie Brunner and Mallorie Jones answered with triples for the Pirates (5-14, 3-6), but three points was the closest Perkins got. In response, Farrar hit two free throws before a bucket from Reese Daniel made it 30-23. Ember Andres drilled a 3 and buckets from Farrar and Davis gave Clyde a 37-26 lead after three quarters. "We were trying to stay consistent on the defensive end knowing Perkins' biggest strengths," Heck said. "I thought we were better in the second half of eliminating second-chance points. I know it's tough playing in a zone, but we harped on the girls that when a shot went up, we had to locate." Perkins never made a run at the deficit in the fourth quarter. The Pirates missed all nine field goals they attempted in the final eight minutes, finishing 7 of 43 from the field on the night. Perkins also connected on just 11 of 23 free throws. "The shots we took were good shots but they just didn't fall," Pirates coach Leia Lyden said. "We need to make more of our free throws. Clyde is a good, disciplined team and shot the ball well tonight." Daniel opened the fourth quarter with a bucket and later, Kelsey Ray scored to increase the lead to 41-27. Daniel scored twice more later in the fourth quarter, finishing with a team-high 13 points. She's the lone senior for the Fliers. That, coupled with Heck taking over the program late in the summer, still has Clyde playing catch-up. "People have to understand that the stuff we're doing now, we should be doing in our last shootout in the summer," Heck said. "We've had no time together other than what's in the season. I'm still figuring them out and we're still figuring them out. It's getting there." Brunner, Jones and Hannah Koelsch (nine rebounds) each scored nine points for Perkins. The Pirates travel to Port Clinton on Monday in Sandusky Bay Conference crossover action. "Overall, our girls showed a lot of effort, they hustled and they played hard which is what we ask of them every time we step in the court," Lyden said. "I thought that they did that well today. Defensively, I thought that we played fairly well and had our help defense where they needed to be." Farrar added 12 points for Clyde, which continues to learn how to play without Taitum Jeffrey. The team's leading scorer, Jeffrey was hurt in a game against Edison and hasn't played the last three games. The Fliers are now 2-1 without her. "We've had a lot of maturation with some girls. At first, it was like deer in the headlights," Heck said. "Now they're understanding that they're more than capable and they're good. Obviously we're a different team with her on the floor. She's a first-team all-conference player and has to be nominated for Player of the Year, not just in the league, but also in the district. She's an all-Ohio player. When you lose that, you're losing a lot. "Our girls are understanding that the pieces around her are pretty darn good. When we do get her back, everybody's game around her is going to be elevated." PERKINS (5-14, 3-6) Jalee Lipsey 0 0-1 0, Mallorie Jones 2 3-6 9, Isabella Ramirez 0 0-0 0, Allie Brunner 3 1-2 9, Hannah Koelsch 2 5-6 9, Elizabeth Green 0 1-6 1, Leah Butler 0 1-2 1. TOTALS 7 11-23 29 CLYDE (13-7, 3-5) Annmarie Davis 4 0-0 8, Kelsey Ray 1 0-0 2, Reese Daniel 6 0-0 13, Ariah Farrar 4 3-6 12, Ember Andres 1 0-0 3, Lillian Greenslade 3 3-4 9. TOTALS 19 6-10 47 Perkins 11 5 10 3 — 29 Clyde 9 9 19 10 — 47 Three-point goals: Perkins 4 (Jones 2, Brunner 2); Clyde 3 (Daniel, Farrar, Andres)