Sports
Extra Points: Shepard's McClinton Put the Moves on Eisenhower
Jamila McClinton used her signature spin move to her advantage in the Astros' 41-32 girls regional basketball victory on Monday night. But she knows it's going to take more than one move to keep Shepard going in the playoffs.
Shepard's Jamila McClinton looked like a ballerina instead of a basketball player. She was spinning around Eisenhower's players all night in the Astros' 41-32 girls basktball regional victory on Monday.
But for McClinton, her moves are just part of the way she learned to play ball.
"It (the spin move) started when I was a little bit younger because I started off playing against boys," she said. "They were always bigger than me, so I had to figure out some way to get it up there. Spinning was what I would always go to."
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McClinton, a senior forward, led the Astros with 15 points and seven rebounds. She scored three of the five points Shepard was limited to in the third quarter and came up with a big block under the basket to help keep the Astros in control of the game.
Shepard coach Rick Mundo said it was just an average night for McClinton.
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"(Fifteen points) is pretty much standard practice," he said. "We expect that from her. We're always looking for her to have a double-double. She's our go-to person."
McClinton said the Astros were determined to knock off Eisenhower.
"It was a big game for us," she said. "Last game, we let it get a little close toward the end and we wanted to come out this game and knock them out early."
McClinton said she knows Marist won't be an easy opponent for Shepard in Wednesday's regional semifinal matchup, but she said the Astros are going to try and put the pressure on them like they did Eisenhower
"It's going to be tough," McClinton said. "But we're going to come out hard and try to play our game and focus on our defense like we do every game."
The Best Play: McClinton's defensive block under the basket in the third quarter with under 5 seconds to play. Eisenhower was looking for a turning point, but McClinton stopped the Cardinals in their tracks.
A Look Ahead: Shepard will take on the red-hot RedHawks of Marist in a regional semifinal on Wednesday night.
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