Published: November 28, 2008 10:33 am            

Clinton set to host River Queen Classic

CLINTON — The feel is a bit different for Clinton High at this year's River Queen Classic.

The two-day girls basketball tournament usually is the season-opening event on the River Queens' schedule — this year they already have played once. Most years, the main objective is winning the title — this year that has changed, too.

“I look at it as it's not really being important to win the title now but to get game experience,” Clinton coach Jason McEwen said Wednesday night. “But, there's always some pride in that River Queen Classic.

McEwen knew he'd need to do some rebuilding this season after seven seniors, including all the starters graduated from last year's team that went 14-8 and finished third in the Mississippi Athletic Conference. That task is even rougher in the early going with two projected starters missing the season-opener Tuesday at Dubuque Hempstead, and one of them, sophomore guard Ebony Jackson, ruled out for this weekend because of a groin injury. The fact that there are only eight players on the varsity roster simply adds another obstacle.

With Jackson and senior letterwinner Kait Lemke out of the lineup Tuesday, McEwen inserted sophomore Courtney Camp and junior Mallory Voss in to the starting lineup, joining letterwinners Sarah Wenzel, a senior, and Leisha Harris, a sophomore, along with junior Sarah Massey.

“There are question marks about where we are right now,” McEwen said. “It's going to be hard to go back-to-back. It's a good test to see where we are. I'm not sure where that is right now.”

He will know more tonight after Clinton plays Fulton in the 6:30 p.m. game at Yourd Gymnasium, which follows the 5 p.m. contest between Central DeWitt and Camanche. Tonight's winners play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday after the 1 p.m. third-place game.

“Central DeWitt always has been competitive,” McEwen said. “Camanche has always had a solid program as long as I can remember. Fulton always works hard.”

        

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