The Clippers are currently undefeated in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference with a league record of 8-0 and hold a three-game lead over second-place United.

On Monday evening, they hosted the visiting Jackson-Milton Blue Jays out of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, as the two schools are starting to tune up for the postseason tournament, which is about a month away.

Columbiana picked a good night to shoot the ball well as a trio of Clippers hit double-figures in scoring to help earn a 67-41 win over Jackson-Milton.

Clippers coach Dave Crismon liked his team’s ball movement, which led to some easy baskets.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Abigail Spalding of Jackson-Milton stops before firing up a shot in the third quarter of the Blue Jays’ loss to Columbiana.

“I was pleased with how we shared the ball tonight,” he said. “I thought we started off kind of slow, but then as the game sped up, we sped up.

“We like to run up and down the floor, and I liked us getting out ahead looking for each other because we have some kids that can attack the basket well. And then when we can break teams down and find (girls) under the basket, it just makes us that much better. And we shot the ball well tonight, so I thought that was a real plus, too.”

Senior Kayla Muslovski was the top contributor for the Clippers, as she scored 18 points to go along with five steals and four assists. She had two of Columbiana’s nine 3-pointers.

“I think our whole team is very confident in their shots, and that’s what we like as a team is to always stay confident when you’re going to shoot the ball,” Muslovski said. “It’s all in perception and how you’re thinking.

“Honestly, my team moving the ball a lot, I think that’s what did it,” she added. “We slowed the game down, and that’s when we got our shots.”

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Columbiana’s Kayla Muslovski drives down the court during the first quarter. She led the Clippers with a game-high 18 points.

Junior Grace Witmer chalked up 16 points, and senior Grace Hammond added with 14.

Columbiana also recorded 17 assists in the winning effort.

A key moment in the game happened after halftime with the Clippers up 33-18. They started the third quarter on a 10-0 run to quickly make it 43-18. Muslovski knew it was important to build a substantial lead after the intermission.

“That was huge,” she said. “That’s what our coach was talking about in the locker room. That’s what we wanted to do. That was the plan, and we did that.”

Jackson-Milton (7-6) coach Pat Keney coached along side Crismon for several years and knew he had a battle on his hands going into the game.

“We came down here, and the first quarter wasn’t too bad,” he said. “Second quarter we got to help play defense. I know what they did on offense and defense, and they moved the ball around real quick, and we were too slow getting around playing good defense on them.

“They’re well coached. Dave coached with me for six years, and we didn’t get the job done (tonight).”

Sophomore Chelsea Williams led the Blue Jays with 14 points. Senior Abigail Spalding pitched in with 10.

Meanwhile, Crismon feels that the Clippers (11-3) are in a good spot with the playoffs looming.

“I think we’re starting to jell,” he said. “I wouldn’t say peak. To me it’s a never-ending process getting to the end of the season. But, I like the confidence that we’re exhibiting.”