Ladies also win a pair in great week of CHS hoops
The tradition of winning basketball is alive and well at Cloverdale High School this season, as both the varsity boys and girls take aim at coveted NCL-1 titles.
The Eagles took a major step toward that end last week with road and home victories over Kelseyville (69-55) and Willits (46-39) in running their record to 2-0 in league and 9-3 on the year.
Meanwhile the ladies were equally impressive, claiming wins over Kelseyville (54-44) and Willits (48-45) to push their record to 2-0 and 7-2.
Boys notch a pair
Cloverdale opened league action at Kelseyville on Jan. 6, taking on a Knight’s squad with its own title designs and a solid 9-3 record.
Not a problem, as the Eagles used an explosive first quarter in powering to a 34-29 lead at the half. Cloverdale gained separation in the third period, outscoring the Knights 20-11 to extend the lead to 14. The Eagles fought off every challenge in the final quarter to notch a 69-55 win.
Jayson McMillan led all scorers with 22 points while adding eight rebounds. Other big contributors were Marcus Poe (20 points, 7 boards), John McMillan (11 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists), Travis Kitowski (10 points, 2 boards), Angel Vega (6 points), and Adrian Bernardi (2 points, 3 boards, 2 assists, steal).
“That was the best offensive game we’ve had in a while,” CHS coach Steve Bernardi said. “Jayson and Marcus shot the ball well, and Angel and Travis hit some key three-point shots to help extend their zone. John had an all around strong performance,” he added.
Cloverdale played host to two-time NCL-1 defending champion Willits in front of a packed house on Friday, a game with huge title implications. The Eagles were up to the task, employing stifling defensive pressure to throttle the Wolverines’ attack.
Cloverdale rebounded from an early 12-5 deficit to climb back into it in the second quarter to trail 24-21 at the break. The second half belonged to the Eagles’ defense, holding Willits to just four points in a decisive third period. Cloverdale took an eight point lead into the final quarter and held off the Wolverines down the stretch to claim a 46-39 win.
“We finally beat Willits after two years of disappointing losses,” victorious coach Steve Bernardi said later. “We didn’t play well offensively with too many turnovers and missed shots, but the defense was outstanding.”
Poe led the attack with 17 points and four rebounds, while other top scorers were John McMillan (10 points, 7 boards, 3 assists), Luke Pope (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Jayson McMillan (7 points, 5 rebounds), and Greg Scaramella (3 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal). Adrian Bernardi, Scaramella, and Pope chipped in lock-down defensive efforts for the Eagles.
Cloverdale will visit Middletown this Friday, Jan. 16 (7:30 p.m.) before returning home to host Fort Bragg next Tuesday, Jan. 20 (7:30 p.m.).
Ladies win a pair
The Lady Eagles opened the league campaign in winning fashion against visiting Kelseyville on Jan. 6, capitalizing on a great start to take a 31-16 lead at the half. There was no let-up in the final 16 minutes as Cloverdale cruised to a 54-44 win.
Top scorers for the Eagles included Angel Bernardi (18), Teanne Edens (13), Ale Perez (11), Karsyn Stewart (8), Bailey Stewart (3) and Jaedyn Jenkins (1).
The ladies closed out a perfect week in Friday’s road clash at Willits, busting open a tight contest in the second quarter for a 24-19 halftime lead. The Eagles took an 11-point cushion into the fourth quarter, and held off a furious Willits rally to escape with a 48-45 win.
Pacing the offense were Bernardi (19), Edens (10), Bailey Stewart (7), Perez (6), Arianna Fernandez (4), and one point each from Karsyn Stewart and Jordyn Turner.
Cloverdale will host Middletown this Friday, Jan. 16 (varsity 7:30 p.m.) and visit Fort Bragg next Tuesday, Jan. 20 (7:30 p.m.).
