Clinton 63, Blue Ridge Girls Basketball 56

Updated December 13 at 11:22 a.m.

CLINTON, Ill. -- The Lady Knights erased a 22-14 first-quarter deficit with a 20-11 second quarter that gave them a 34-33 lead going into halftime.

The Lady Maroons, however, went on a 11-4 run in the first 3:42 of the third quarter. From there, Clinton never trailed and escaped with a 63-56 home victory.

Jacquelyn O'Neal (pictured above) was Blue Ridge's leading scorer with 19 points, including 12 in the second half. Her last two points of the first half, scored in the paint on a Melinda Wilson assist, cut Blue Ridge's deficit to 26-25 with 2:11 left in the second quarter.

Seven of Wilson's 18 points were scored in the second quarter, including a field goal that gave the Lady Knights the 34-33 halftime lead.

As a team, Blue Ridge shot 20-of-52 from the field, a percentage of 38%.

O'Neal also finished the game with a double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocked five shots. Wilson (pictured below) had eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

However, it would not be enough, as Clinton's Payton Bieber started the second half with two baskets, the second a fastbreak layup off a steal. Those two baskets gave the Lady Maroons a 37-34 lead, and a Madi Bevins basket increased the lead to 39-34 with 6:16 left in the third quarter.

Going into the fourth quarter, Clinton led 51-42. The Lady Knights cut the lead to 53-50 with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter via two free throws from Bailey Clancy, who ended the game scoring seven points.

Two free throws from Wilson and a basket by O'Neal cut a 59-50 Clinton lead to 59-56 with about a minute left in regulation. However, four free throws by Haley Toohill clinched the game for the Lady Maroons.

With the loss, Blue Ridge drops to a 5-6 overall record. The Lady Knights will host another non-conference game against DeLand-Weldon on Monday.

There will be no junior varsity game, so the varsity teams will play at 6:30 p.m.

There was, however, a junior varsity game in Clinton on Saturday, which Blue Ridge lost 33-14. Miranda Gillis scored the first basket for the Lady Knights with about 4:30 left in the second quarter.

Gillis and Brette Dow tied for the team lead with five points.

Blue Ridge (56)
Jacquelyn O'Neal 7-18 5-6 19, Korrie Gilbert 2-8 3-4 7, Melinda Wilson 7-12 3-4 18, Liz Cordes 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Clancy 2-6 3-4 7, Gabby Pearl 2-3 0-0 4, Jamison Brandt 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 20-52 15-20 56.
Clinton (63)
Megan Tool 2 1-2 5, Madi Bevins 5 0-0 12, Haley Ginger 3 8-9 15, Alex Hunt 0 0-1 1, Morgan Witzke 0 2-2 2, Mogan Hickman 1 4-6 6, Amber Miller 1 0-0 3, Haley Toohill 2 6-8 10, Jessica Scott 1 4-5 6, Payton Bieber 2 0-3 4. Totals 17 25-36 63.
Blue Ridge    14    20    8    14    -- 56
Clinton    22    11    18    12    -- 63
3-pointers -- Blue Ridge (Wilson). Clinton 4 (Bevins 2, Ginger, Miller).
For Blue Ridge, Jacquelyn O'Neal had 12 rebounds, 5 blocks. Wilson had 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 assists. Pearl had 6 rebounds. Clancy had 5 rebounds. Team had 36 rebounds.
For Clinton, Scott had 11 rebounds. Hickman had 9 rebounds. Bieber had 6 rebounds. Toohill had 5 steals. Team had 38 rebounds.
JV -- Clinton 33, Blue Ridge 14.
(Blue Ridge -- 5-6; next: Monday vs. DeLand-Weldon, 6:30 p.m. Clinton -- 6-4.)