Clark makes a statement with latest district victory
The girls high school playoffs are two weeks away, and Clark showed Monday it is ready for another state-tournament run.
Led by 6-foot-4 junior Arianna Roberson's 20 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks, the Cougars dismantled Johnson, District 28-6A's second-best team, 67-21 at Littleton Gym.
“It's a Monday, and Mondays are kind of tough, but I think we put an end to that today,” Roberson said. “It was a great game overall. They're a tough team, but I think we're the better team overall.”
Clark, the state's topranked Class 6A team, clinched at least a share of district title and secured the No. 1 seed. The Cougars (25-3 overall, 14-0) are on target for back-to-back 16-0 district seasons. Clark faces Churchill, which is battling for 28-6A's fourth playoff spot, on Friday and closes the regular season against Roosevelt on Feb. 7.
The Cougars dominated every aspect of Monday's game. They outrebounded Johnson 48-16 and held the Jaguars scoreless for a stretch of nine minutes over the second and third quarters as the Cougars turned an 27-11 advantage to a commanding 53-13 lead.
“This is definitely a confidence boost because we know what we're capable of, and we proved it tonight,” Roberson said. “It just correlates everything together.”
Junior Kamryn Griffin, who transferred from Johnson last season, added 18 points for Clark.
“It was a very good team win,” Griffin said. “Everyone contributed. There wasn't one person left standing.”
Roberson swatted most of her blocks in the first quarter as the Cougars took away the Jaguars' opportunities to drive to the
basket.
“It changes the game,” Roberson said. “I love blocking people. I think it contributes a lot back to offense – being able to get a stop and go back on offense. It helps the game a lot and makes the game a lot faster and easier.”
The Jaguars (24-8, 12-2) were led by Ja'shelle Johnson's six points.
While winning back-toback district championships is good, the Cougars have bigger goals. They are looking to get to the state tournament for a second straight season. Clark's run ended last season in the 6A state semifinals
with a 56-47 loss against eventual champion Desoto.
Along with Roberson, guards Natalie Huff and Ramsey Robledo return as starters. That trio is bolstered with senior forward Kaitlin Whitlock, a key reserve last year who starts this season, and Griffin, who started at Johnson two years ago before playing on Clark's junior varsity last year because of transfer rules.
“Because we are doing so well in the season and our run at state last year, that has really prepared us for moments where they are going to come at us
constantly,” said Robledo, a St. Mary's signee who was named to the state's all-tournament team a year ago.
Clark has won 33 straight district games. Clark is 37-1 in district play over the last three seasons.
Clark defeated Johnson 64-52 on Dec. 30 to sweep the season series.
“We were all excited for this game,” Whitlock said. “It's always a highly anticipated one, so coming out that strong and finishing that strong is very exciting.”