Varsity basketball
The races for the NCL-1 basketball pennant are shaping up as hotly contested for both Cloverdale High varsity teams, as they fight to stay in the title conversation nearing the halfway mark of the league schedule.
Last week the Lady Eagles kept pace with wins over St. Helena (54-24) and Lower Lake (51-38), while the boys gained a split with a win over St. Helena (78-31) followed by a 52-40 setback to Lower Lake.
At the start of play this week the girls (15-4, 4-2) were in third place in the NCL-1 race, two games back of first-place Kelseyville (6-0) and one behind Middletown (5-1).
Rounding out the league standings are Clear Lake (3-3), Lower Lake (2-4), Willits (2-4), Fort Bragg (2-4) and St. Helena (0-6).
This week the Eagles have scheduled games at Fort Bragg on Jan. 26 (after press time) and home against Clear Lake on Friday, Jan. 29 (7:30 p.m.).
The varsity boys (14-4, 4-2) began this week tied for third place with Kelseyville (4-2), two games back of league-leading Fort Bragg (6-0) and one behind Lower Lake (5-1).
Filling out the league standings are Clear Lake (3-3), Middletown (1-5), Willits (1-5) and St. Helena (0-6).
Cloverdale will hit the road this week for critical games at Fort Bragg (Jan. 27, 8 p.m.) and Friday, Jan. 29 at Clear Lake (7:30 p.m.).
Boys gain split
Things started well enough for the Eagles in their Jan. 19 meeting with St. Helena, jumping all over the visiting Saints to lead 41-20 at the half. Cloverdale put the hammer down with a 26-8 run in the third quarter and never looked back en route to a 78-31 win. Pacing the offensive attack were Gage Hoover (19 points), Marcus Poe (18 points) and Mike McDermott (12 points).
The defending league champion Eagles suffered a setback in their Jan. 22 visit to Lower Lake, as the Trojans held Cloverdale to single digits in scoring in three of the four quarters.
The Eagles used a 17-7 second-quarter run to lead 24-22 at the half, but were outscored 30-16 after intermission as the Trojans powered to a 52-40 win.
Leading scorers were Jayson McMillan (12) and Marcus Poe (10).
“We’ve been very inconsistent,” Eagles coach Steve Bernardi said. “We played a great game against St Helena and a stinker against Lower Lake. One night we look great, another we look like we never played before.”
Girls notch wins
The Lady Eagles were in dominant form in each of their games last week, starting with a 30-point rout at St. Helena on Jan. 19. Cloverdale was in command from the opening tip, racing to a 29-7 lead at the break on their way to a 54-24 victory.
Top point-producers included Camryn Figueroa (11 points, 1 assist, 3 steals), Ale Perez (6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Bailey Stewart (5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Karsyn Stewart (4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal), Teanne Edens (3 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist), Angel Bernardi (3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Katie Edwards (2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal) and Ruby Stone (2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist).
The girls played host to Lower Lake on Jan. 22, gaining early separation to grab a 29-17 cushion at the half.
The Eagles took an 18-point edge into the final period and held off a late Trojans rally to notch a 51-38 win.
Cloverdale won the battle on the boards, pulling down 41 rebounds.
Leading scorers were Ale Perez (14 points, 5 rebounds), Angel Bernardi (12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal), Figueroa (7 points, 2 rebounds), Bailey Stewart (6 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals), Edens (6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) and Karsyn Stewart (4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists).
