Girls basketball
The Eagles will kick off the winter basketball season as the team to beat, looking to defend their NCL-1 title of a year ago.
Cloverdale is coming off a magical 2014/15 campaign that featured a perfect, 14-0 league record and a spot in the North Coast Section Division-4 playoff tournament.
The Eagles lost a memorable playoff game at perennial power Cardinal Newman in March to finish the season at 19-8.
Although the Eagles lost players to graduation in June, Cloverdale returns four starters to the varsity squad that are long on talent and experience, a combination that will bode well this season.
The list of returnees includes a pair of all-leaguers in four-year senior guard Angel Bernardi and three-year starting guard Bailey Stewart, two of the top players in the NCL-1. Rounding out the starting five are returning seniors Karsyn Stewart, Teanne Edens and Alejandra Perez. Returning sophomore Jaedyn Jenkins will be a key player off the bench.
Rounding out the Eagles roster are first-year varsity players; juniors Katie Edwards and Ruby Stone and sophomore Camryn Figueroa.
“Our starting five have great work habits and are great leaders,” Eagles coach Rick Berry said. “Newcomers Ruby Stone, Katie Edwards and Camryn Figueroa have all been working hard to find their role on the team.”
Although defending champion Cloverdale is clearly the class of the league again this year, veteran coach Rick Berry starts the season with a familiar set of goals.
“Our goal is like always; to win the NCL-1 and to get into the NCS playoffs,” he said.
The Eagles open the season on the road on Dec. 3 in tournament play against Ferndale. Tip-off is 2:30 p.m.
Cloverdale will host Mendocino in the home opener next Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m.
