The Sturgeon Bay Clippers girls basketball team saw a double-digit lead against the Gibraltar Vikings evaporate in the second half, but they were able to ward off the challenge to earn the 58-52 victory Thursday night in Fish Creek.

The Clippers regularly went to the charity stripe in the opening stanza, shooting 23 of 38 free throws in the first half. That, coupled with a five-minute scoring drought for the Vikings, allowed the Clippers to build up their advantage to over 15 points before Mikala Gorham started to whittle away at the lead, setting the stage for the excitement in the second half. Regan Kasten and Dasha Yeltysheva combined to score 21 points for the Clippers, taking a 33-19 advantage into the locker room. 

Gorham ensured the Vikings went down with a fight. She opened the second half with eight straight points to cut the lead to single digits. Celeste Jauregui and Bridget Tepe also came alive for the Vikings, combining to score 15 points in the second half. Jauregui's three-pointer with 4:38 left in the game made it a four-point game with the momentum on the side for the Vikings, but Cady Carlson's answer from downtown ensured the Clippers would stay afloat for the rest of the game. The Vikings would get no closer than two points as Kasten and Yeltysheva were able to secure the game from the line. 

The Clippers were led by Kasten's 21 points, with Yeltysheva adding 18 and Carlson chipping in 10. The Vikings were paced by Gorham's 21 points, while Jauregui contributed 10 and Anna Jarosh chipped in eight. 

The Clippers are back in action on Friday night to play Hilbert on Senior Night. The Hilltoppers are 1-19 on the season and are nursing a five-game losing streak after they beat Little Chute in late January. Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m.