Cloverdale pushes record to 10-4 with a pair of wins
The Lady Eagles began defense of their league title in winning fashion, opening the NCL 1 schedule with victories over Middletown (55-35) and Kelseyville (64-56, OT).
The wins pushed Cloverdale’s overall record to 10-4 and a 2-0 in league.
The ladies will be back on the court this week with a home clash versus Fort Bragg on Jan. 8 (after press time) and at Lower Lake this Friday, Jan. 11 (7:30 p.m.). The Eagles will host Willits next Monday, Jan. 14 in a 7 p.m. varsity tip-off.
Eagles serve notice
The opening week of the NCL 1 season could prove a harbinger of great things to come, with Cloverdale getting the party started with a Jan. 2 home rout over Middletown. The Eagles clung to a 22-19 edge at the half but busted it open with a 21-4 run in the decisive third quarter on their way to a 55-35 romp.
Tehya Bird led the scoring with a sensation 30-point, eight-rebound performance. Also in the scoring column were Kaylee King (13 points, 5 rebounds), Maci Hernandez (4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Kayli Persons (6 points, 6 boards, 7 assists, 4 steals) and Marina Lopez (2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal).
The Eagles found themselves in a dogfight two nights later at Kelseyville, climbing back from an early 10-point deficit to trail 26-23 at the half. Following an even third period, the game came down to the final seconds as Cloverdale evened the score at 50-all to send it into overtime. It was all Eagles in the extra period, outscoring the Knights 14-6 to escape with a 64-56 win.
Bird continued her dominance with 28 points, six rebounds, one assist and a whopping 13 steals. Other top scorers were Persons (14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals), Catherine Driver (18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals), Hernandez (2 points, 1 steal), Ahnna Randolph (1 point, 3 rebounds), Alyssa Moffett (1 point, 1 rebound, Morgan Sceales (5 rebounds) and King (2 rebounds).
