Utica 37, Amanda-Clearcreek 36
AMANDA — Amanda-Clearcreek had several looks in the final seconds but couldn’t get a shot to fall as Utica left with a 37-36 win on a night when Taylor Evans passed the 1,000-point mark.
The Aces were a point down with final seconds clicking off. While they missed a three, a defensive foul gave AC the ball with 6.8 seconds on the clock. AC got another shot off and a held ball on the rebound gave the Aces one more chance with a second left. They got the ball in down on the block and got another shot off but it, too, wouldn’t fall as the Redskins escaped with the win.
The final seconds took a little bit of the joy out of gym from Evans’ big shot in the third quarter.
With 999 points at the half, Evans hit AC’s first shot in the third quarter to eclipse 1,000 points.
“Honestly, I kind of just wanted to get it over with so we could try and get the W,” Evans said about what she was thinking at halftime. “It didn’t turn out like that, but, obviously, I was anxious. I have been anxious the past two games, but I just let it flow, and it happened when it did.”
In perfect world, the achievement would have come in early December but a torn ACL had Evans out of the lineup for the Aces’ first eight games.
“When I tore my ACL in the summer, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play, even at all, my senior year. So being able to step on the court with my teammates tonight and be able to do that was huge,” she said.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of that kid for all she’s battled through,” AC coach Tim Leist said. “Coming back from the knee injury and just putting herself in that position is incredible. It’s a testament to her work, her effort, her mindset, and I’m just super, super proud of her putting herself self in that position.
“It’s been one of the greatest joys of my coaching career to coach her these last four years.”
Evans had seven more free throws in the third quarter and a basket in the fourth to give her 18 for the game and 1,010 for her career.
Getting to 1,000 is something she’s been eyeing since her sister, Alyssa, did it in 2018.
“I knew how hard she worked, and I knew how hard I needed to work. So, I mean, it’s the countless hours in the gym when no one’s there and working out with my brother almost daily in the summer, and in the off season,” Evans said. “ It’s getting all those extra reps, and sometimes it’s exhausting, but when you hit the milestones, it’s so worth it.”
“It goes back to the work that she was putting in, going to work out at 4.30 in the morning and doing all this stuff and just grinding away. And we knew when she went down in June, if anybody can come back ahead of schedule, it’s this kid,” Leist said. “Most ACLs are like a nine-month recovery, which we thought initially would put out for the whole season. We knew what she would do, work ethic wise, and like I said, just incredibly proud of her for putting herself in that position.”
Now the Aces need to find a way to win a tight game like Monday’s and get some more marks in the win column.
“We did a lot of positive things tonight. I thought we controlled most of the controllables,” Evans said. “Obviously, that run in the third quarter was hard (Utica scored the first seven points to take the lead), but we have to find an identity as a team, and whether that’s defensively or offensively or rebounding or something, we need to figure it out, and it’s my job as a leader to take that first step and help us get there.”
“I really thought when we beat Carroll last week, we played well. And I thought we were turning that corner,” Leist said. “And it’s just like we kind of took two steps backward against Circleville and then tonight.
“We’ve got a couple of days here to prepare for Liberty Union. Another very solid basketball team. We just have to bounce back and that’s the resilience of this group, and we’ve just got to keep battling.”
Makena Wilson had all 13 of her points in the third quarter to lead Utica.
The Aces (1-11) are at Liberty Union Saturday while Utica (9-3) hosts Newark Catholic Wednesday.
Utica 37, Amanda-Clearcreek 36
Utica — Callie Baker 3-0-8, Makena Wilson 5-4-13, Emily Ritzer 2-1-5, Emily Meyers 2-0-4, Gracie Cyphers 2-2-7. Three-point goals — Baker (2), Wilson, Cyphers Totals — 14-5-37.
Amanda-Clearcreek — Hayden Plank 2-1-6, Makenna Singleton 1-0-3, Taylor Evans 5-8-18, Kaylie Wilson 2-0-5, Channing Riley 1-1-4. Three-point goals — Plank, Singleton, Wilson, Riley. Totals — 11-10-36.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Utica 8 2 15 10 37
Amanda-Clearcreek 6 10 13 7 36
All-Time Lady Aces
Alyssa Evans (2015-19), 1,776
Michelle Estell (1995-99), 1,640
Alicia Miller (1995-99), 1,452
Maddie Snider (2013-17), 1,077
Alyssia Morris (1999-2002), 1,050
Taylor Evans (2022-2026), 1,010
(Complete list of the area’s 1,000-point scorers)