Girls take two of three in Boonville’s Stokes Tournament
The varsity basketball Eagles served notice of a great start to the 2016/17 campaign last week, winning all four games played to capture first place in the 59th annual Redwood Classic Tournament in Boonville.
Cloverdale (4-0) kicked off the tourney on Nov. 30 with a 78-52 romp over Valley Christian, and finished up with subsequent wins over Argonaut (78-61), Branson (38-34) and Stuart Hall (74-73) to hoist the first-place trophy.
“I am really proud how the team played this weekend, we defended well, shot incredible, and handled all the adverse situations that came our way,” CHS head coach Steve Bernardi said. “Our kids played great against Northern California powerful Division 5 teams, Branson and Stuart Hall.”
Eagles soar
The boys left nothing to chance in the Redwood Classic tourney opener against Valley Christian on Nov. 30, using good scoring balance to take charge from the opening tip en route to a 78-52 rout. Top point scorers included Jayson McMillan (19), Gage Hoover (18), Jordan Persons (16) and Luke Pope (8 points, 9 assists).
It was more of the same the following night, easily dispatching Argonaut in an 80-61 win. Top point getters included Hoover (25), McMillan (20 points, 15 rebounds), Persons (19) and Pope (12).
“It was a great win against a very good team,” Bernardi noted. “We played great transition defense and the team executed the game plan flawlessly.”
The Eagles squared off with perennial playoff power Branson in the tourney semifinals on Dec. 2, with great defense on both sides limiting the scoring. Cloverdale erased a one-point deficit with an 11-2 run in the final period to seal a 38-32 win. McMillan led all scorers with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The win set up a tourney title clash with Division 5 power Stuart Hall on Dec. 3, as the teams traded buckets in an offensive shootout. With the game hanging in the balance, Pope knocked down two clutch free throws for a four-point lead, and the Eagles defended a three-point shot at the buzzer to preserve a 74-73 win.
McMillan was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, while Persons landed on the All-Tournament team.
Lady Eagles win at Kelseyville Stokes tourney
The Lady Eagles (2-1) also enjoyed their share of success in the first weekend of play, taking two of three games at the Kelseyville Stokes Tournament on Dec. 1-3. Cloverdale got out of the blocks fast in the opener against Upper Lake on Dec. 1, scoring a decisive 58-21 win.
Pacing the Eagles attack were Camryn Figueroa (19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals), Hannah Bereschi (8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 assist), Tehya Bird (7 points, 7 boards, 5 steals), Paloma Santos (7 points, 2 rebounds, 7 steals), Ruby Stone (6 points, 2 rebounds), Jaedyn Jenkins (7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals), Kayli Persons (2 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals), Shaye Stewart (2 points, 4 boards, 4 assists) and Katie Edwards (1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal).
Cloverdale used a strong second half to gain separation against Rancho Cotate in game two on Dec. 2, powering to a 62-51 victory. Bird led all scorers with a career high 24 points, 12 rebounds and 9 steals.
Also turning in good efforts were Figueroa (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals), Persons (6 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals), Jenkins (8 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal) and Stewart (4 points, 10 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal).
The Eagles met their match in the Stokes tourney title game against Kelseyville, suffering a 69-37 loss. Top contributors were Bird (16 points 8 rebounds), Figueroa (10 points, 3 rebounds), Persons (5 points, 6 boards), Jenkins (3 points), Santos (2 points) and Bereschi (1 point).
Bird and Figueroa were each named to the All-Tournament team.
The girls will resume preseason action at the Fred Austin Tournament at Potter Valley on Dec. 7-10.
