Cloverdale opens up on Dec. 6 against St. Vincent
The month of December signals tournament time for Cloverdale High School basketball teams, with the Eagles’ varsity boys and girls hitting the court in a pair of annual events.
The boys will host the 53rd annual John McMillan Holiday Invitational Tournament on Dec. 6-8, opening up on Thursday, Dec. 6 in an 8:30 p.m. tip-off against St. Vincent. The title game will be played at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. Other participating teams include St. Bernard’s, Del Norte, Anderson Valley, St. Helena and Willows.
Cloverdale (2-1) has already logged three games on the pre-league circuit, opening the season in the Redwood Classic Tournament in Booneville on Nov. 28 with a 73-23 rout over Anderson Valley. The Eagles dropped the second game against Argonaut (73-56) but captured third place with a 46-39 victory over Woodside Priory on Saturday.
Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is back to lead a relatively young varsity team, which includes just two returning players from last year’s 18-8 playoff squad. Returnees are senior guard Mario Lopez and sophomore center Josh Lemley.
“Josh will anchor our inside game and Mario will guide the team from the point guard position,” Fitzgerald said. “This year’s team has good inside outside balance and likes to play at an up-tempo pace. They’ll be fun to watch.”
The list of first year varsity players features the core of last year’s JV league championship squad, including junior guards Spencer Hoover, Jesus “Chuche” Maciel and sophomore Andy Herrera. Forwards are junior Shayne Turner, senior Keller Sibert, senior Garrett Robertson and junior Tyler Ruys.
Eagles take two of three
Cloverdale made short work of Anderson Valley in the Redwood Classic opener, racing to a 21-0 lead after one before powering to a 73-23 rout. Top scorers were Maciel (15), Lemley (14 points, 8 boards), Lopez (14 points, 10 assists) Herrera (11 points), Hoover (7 points, 7 rebounds), Ruys (6 points), Sibert (4 points) and Robertson (2 points).
The Eagles met a tough Argonaut squad in game two on Nov. 29, spotting the Mustangs a 39-29 halftime lead en route to a 73-56 loss. Pacing the attack were Lemley (22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks), Turner (10 points), Maciel (8 points) and Lopez (7 points).
Cloverdale battled third-place opponent Woodside Priory tooth and nail for 32 minutes in Saturday’s get-away game, maintaining a slight edge most of the way in an eventual 46-39 win. Leading point-producers were Lemley (14), Turner (11), Herrera (8) and Hoover (6).
