CLARION, Pa. – Sophie Babington knocked down four 3-pointers, including three in the first half, to lift Clarion to a 46-22 win over visiting A-C Valley
Also: Dec. 20 D9 Girls Recaps • D9 Boys Recaps
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“We were really passing the ball well,” Babington, who was named the Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game, said. “It was leading to open shots.”
Babington hit a pair of her triples early helping Clarion build a 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
“I am always going to be ready for the shot,” Babington said. “If it comes to me. If it comes to be and it’s open, I am going to shoot it. But I am not going to always force it either. If it is there, it is there.”
The Lady Cats’ defense had a lot to do with them getting up big early, as Clarion forced 15 first-half turnovers while taking a 33-9 lead into halftime.
The final three points came when freshman CC Bowser beat the first-half horn with a 3-pointer from about 30 feet away.
Taylor Alston added 13 points for Clarion, which was playing without a pair of regulars in Gia Babington and Marley Kline.
Freshman Alivia Diehl paced the Lady Cats on the glass with 10 rebounds, and Natalie Durish had seven boards.
Maddy Dehart had six points and 12 rebounds for A-C Valley with Makenzie Parks adding four points and 11 rebounds.
Clarion improves to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the KSAC Small School Division with the win and has won three of its last four games.
“I think we are working more as a team,” Babington said. “We are getting better passes, and we are understanding the game more together better.”
Watch Babington’s full postgame interview
A-C Valley fell to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in league play.
Clarion is back in action Dec. 27-28 at the Kane Tournament, while A-C Valley hosts Keystone Thursday.
CLARION 46, A-C VALLEY 22
Score by Quarters
A-C Valley 6 3 4 9 – 22
Clarion 20 13 5 8 – 46
A-C VALLEY = 22
Ella Myers 0 0-0 0, Keira McVay 2 0-0 5, Makenzie Parks 2 0-0 4, Ava Snyder 2 0-0 4, Chloe Myers 1 0-0 2, Maddy Dehart 2 2-6, Emma Raschitaore 0 0-1 0. Totals 9 2-5 22.
CLARION – 46
Madi Baker 1 0-2 2, Taylor Alston 4 5-6 13, Emily Troese 2 0-0 4, Sophie Babington 6 0-0 16, Alivia Diehl 1 0-0 2, Kelsey Best 1 0-0 2, CC Bowser 1 0-0 3, Natalie Durish 2 0-0 4, Olivia Boddorf 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-8 46.
Three-pointers: A-C Valley 2 (McVay, Snyder). Clarion 5 (Babington 4, Bowser 1).
