Cloverdale basketball teams will be looking for a strong finish this month, as Eagle’s boys and girls teams enter the final two-week stretch in the regular season schedule.
The Lady Eagles (16-5, 9-1) maintained the top spot in the NCL 1 standings this week, despite falling from the ranks of the league unbeaten in a 63-50 loss at Kelseyville on Jan. 30. The ladies bounced back two nights later with a 60-44 rout over Fort Bragg and got some help when Lower Lake upset second place Clear Lake.
At press time Cloverdale held a one-game edge over Clear Lake (8-2) and were two up on Kelseyville (7-3). The Lady Eagles will play road and home dates against Lower Lake (Feb. 6) and Willits (Feb. 9, Senior Night, 7:30 p.m.). The Eagles will close out the league with road games at Clear Lake (Feb. 13) and St. Helena (Feb. 15).
Sophomore Tehya Bird (29 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals) had a monster game against Kelseyville, while other top scorers were Kayli Persons (8 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal), Camryn Figueroa (4 points, 7 boards, 1 assist), Heather Sterling (4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Catherine Driver (2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists), Shaye Stewart (2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist), Jaedyn Jenkins (1 assist) and Maci Hernandez (1 point, 4 rebounds).
“We got off to a poor start and had 15 turnovers,” Eagles coach Rick Berry reported. “We fought hard in the second half, out-scoring them by 10 but it was too much of a hole to get out of.”
The ladies were back in the win column on Friday against Fort Bragg, racing to a 29-18 halftime lead en route to a 60-44 win.
Top point scorers were Bird (18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), Figueroa (16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Persons (9 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 steal).
Boys gain split
The Eagles (15-6, 7-3) logged one win in two NCL 1 outings, opening the stretch on Jan. 30 in a tough, 49-46 loss to visiting Kelseyville. Cloverdale led 17-15 at the half but was swamped, 20-14 in the third. The game came down to the last possession but the Knights held on for a three-point win.
Jordan Persons paced the attack with 15 points and five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Other top scorers included Josh Lemley (13 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks), Christian Chavez (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal), Ross Sceales (6 points, 6 boards, 2 steals) and Eli Arreola (3 points, 2 rebounds).
Cloverdale was back in winning form on Friday at Fort Bragg, overcoming an 18-15 first-quarter deficit to grab a two-point lead at the half. It was all Eagles after intermission, outscoring the Timberwolves 38-24 the rest of the way in an eventual 66-50 rout.
Top contributors were Chavez (20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals), Persons (16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals), Lemley (14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists) and Drew Edens (7 points, 2 rebounds).
At the start of play this week the Eagles were locked in a three-way tie for second place in league at 7-3, two games back of first place Kelseyville (9-1). Cloverdale will resume play with home dates with Lower Lake (Feb. 6) and Willits (Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.).
JV girls notch win
The Lady Eagles JV squad (10-12, 5-5) continued a strong season last week, falling at Kelseyville on Jan. 30 in a close one, 34-28 but bouncing back on Friday to defeat visiting Fort Bragg, 52-29.
Top scorers against Kelseyville included Faith Holloman (14 points, 4 steals), Alyssa Moffet (7 points, 3 assists) and Kaylee King (2 points, 7 rebounds).
Leading the way against Fort Bragg were Moffett (20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists), King Kaylee King (9 points, 7 rebounds), Holloman (7 points, 5 steals) and Alyce Victoriano (6 points).
