Career nights from Hathaway, Kiebert help Lady Cats blitz Tigers
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Senior Sara Hathaway cuts through the Mullan defense on Thursday night.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Senior Ellie Kiebert goes up for a layup after getting a steal against Mullan on Thursday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Senior Sara Hathaway celebrates senior night with her family.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Senior Ellie Kiebert celebrates senior night with her family and friends.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE) Clark Fork basketball seniors pose for a group photo during senior night festivities. Front row: Sara Hathaway (left) and Ellie Kiebert. Back row: Josh Constantin (left), Charlie Abbott, Paul Bopp and Isaac Steele.
CLARK FORK — It was only fitting that on senior night, the Lady Cats’ two seniors put on a show in their final home game.
Ellie Kiebert tallied 27 points, 14 rebounds and nine steals and Sara Hathaway added 24 points, seven rebounds and six steals as both players had career highs in points.
It was the perfect ending for two seniors who’ve had a such an impact on the Clark Fork girls basketball program.
“Hathaway is so fast and she’s really good at anticipating where the ball is going and that’s not going to be something you can really replace because a lot of that is natural,” head coach Jordan Adams said,” and then [Kiebert], she’s a phenomenal athlete for one but then to have a personality like hers on the court, I mean she doesn’t mean to but sometimes she even intimidates her own teammates. She’s like the nicest girl in the world but those aren’t just things you can teach. Those are things these girls have been born with that they’re going to take with them through the rest of their lives and I think its going to get them places.”
The play of their seniors helped the Lady Cats capture a 62-19 win over Mullan on Thursday night.
The victory completed a season sweep of the Tigers and also helped Clark Fork clinch the No. 2 seed to the 1A Division II District 1 tournament. The Lady Cats will play the No. 3 seed 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at North Idaho College.
The Lady Cats were all over the Tigers early, forcing turnover after turnover. Mullan struggled even getting the ball past half court as Clark Fork’s full court press gave them nowhere to go.
Left and right, Kiebert, Hathaway, and sophomores Katelyn Matteson and Caiya Yanik were getting steals and helping the Lady Cats convert easy layups.
By the end of the first quarter, Mullan had committed 16 turnovers and Clark Fork built a 20-4 lead.
The Lady Cats continued to fire on all cylinders and took a 39-13 advantage into the locker room.
Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net in the third but the Lady Cats extended their lead and held Mullan to just one point in the quarter.
Hathaway took over in the fourth quarter scoring 11 of Clark Fork’s 13 points in the frame to cap off her career night.
The Lady Cats (8-10, 3-4 NSL) head to Kootenai at 1 p.m. Saturday for their final regular season game.
Mullan 4 9 1 5 — 19
Clark Fork 20 19 10 13 — 62
MULLAN — Petit 0, Haig 1, Ringsbye 2, Fallingwater 8, Frazier 6, Dykes 2.
CLARK FORK — Matteson 6, Valliere 2, Myers 3, Yanik 0, Hathaway 24, Kiebert 27, Hoffman 0, Staley 0.