Cloverdale High School varsity basketball teams kicked off the NCL-1 schedule last week in similar fashion, gaining a split in a pair of games.
The boys squad combined a dominant, 73-48 home win over Clear Lake with a tough, 41-40 loss at Kelseyville, while the girls followed a 38-37 win at Clear Lake with a dramatic, 55-54 triple-overtime loss to Kelseyville.
This week, the varsity boys (11-3, 1-1) will visit Middletown on Jan. 12 (after press time) followed by a Friday, Jan. 15, home clash with Willits (6/7:30 p.m.).
The Lady Eagles (11-3, 1-1) will host Middletown on Jan. 12 and travel to Willits on Jan. 15 (6/7:30 p.m.).
Eagles open league
The Eagles opened defense of their league title with a Jan. 6 home date with Clear Lake, jumping all over the visitors in a 19-5 run out of the gate. Leading 34-28 at the half, Cloverdale effectively iced the contest with a 27-5 surge in the third quarter en route to a 73-48 win. Jayson McMillan paced the attack with 23 points, while Marcus Poe chipped in 10.
The Eagles hit the road for a Jan. 8 visit to Kelseyville. The meeting of title contenders did not disappoint, as the teams waged a four-quarter battle before the Knights pulled out a 41-40 win. McMillan took top scoring honors with 13 points.
“It was a tough loss,” CHS coach Steve Bernardi said. “We were slow all game, and still had chances to win. We just made too many mistakes on key possessions.”
The Eagles wrapped up a solid week with a Jan. 9, non-league home clash with McKinleyville, gaining separation with an outstanding second quarter for a 39-29 halftime lead. The Eagles maintained a cushion most of the second half on their way to a 65-56 win. Top point scorers included Poe (15), McMillan (14) and Luke Pope (12).
“It was a better effort after a disappointing loss,” Bernardi noted. “We shot better, played good defense in the second and third quarters and held on to win.”
Ladies salvage split
The Lady Eagles opened league action at Clear Lake, with the teams trading buckets throughout an intensely played game. Cloverdale took a 31-27 lead into the final period, and did just enough down the stretch to escape with a 38-37 win. Top point producers were Angel Bernardi (13), Ale Perez (10) Teanne Edens (7) Karsyn Stewart (4), Jaedyn Jenkins (2) and Camryn Figueroa (1).
“It was a close game and we were very fortunate to come away with a win,” CHS coach Rick Berry said. “Our defense kept us in the game.”
Fate was not as kind to the Eagles in an epic Jan. 8 home clash with Kelseyville, as the game required an extra 12 minutes and three overtime periods before being decided.
Cloverdale led 18-14 at the half and 27-25 after three before the Knights tied it at 39-all to send it into extra frames. Both teams managed five points in each of the first two overtime periods, sending it to an historic third OT knotted at 49-apiece. The Knights would finally end the madness, knocking down critical foul shots to emerge with a 55-54 win.
“It took three overtimes, and the difference was free throws in overtime,” Berry said. “We were 8-15 and Kelseyville was 10-15. We were on both ends of one-point games, where the losing team missed a two-foot shot to end the game. We played extremely hard both games,” he added.
