Cloverdale boys prepare for postseason
Even without their top player on the court, the Cloverdale Eagles are a dangerous team and they proved it on Friday night by beating the Lower Lake Trojans 67-66 at Lower Lake in North Central League I varsity boys basketball action.
Combined with a 70-34 win on Feb. 7 at Cloverdale in their final home game of the regular season, the Eagles (11-2 league, 18-7 overall) remained one game behind Kelseyville (12-1) in the league standings with one game left for each team. Cloverdale finished on the road Tuesday in Fort Bragg while Kelseyville was home against St. Helena. Both teams advance to the NCL I postseason tournament on Thursday at Mendocino College in Ukiah and would meet for a third time this season if they win in the opening round. They split their two league meetings, each winning at home.
“It could mean the difference between being a four seed, three seed or two seed (for the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs),” Cloverdale coach Steve Bernardi said when asked about the importance of playing well in the postseason tournament. “Our plan is to win.”
The status of senior center Jayson McMillan’s ankle will largely dictate how well the Eagles play the rest of the way. He injured it on a drive inside early in the second half against St. Helena and was held out of the Lower Lake game as a precaution.
“He probably could have played if we needed him but there’s no sense taking a chance,” Bernardi said. “We need him healthy if we’re going to do anything in the playoffs. His is the one position we cannot replace.”
Stepping up for the Eagles against the Trojans were Gage Hoover with a team-best 19 points, Jordan Persons with 15 and Luke Pope with 14.
“We had a chance to put the game away but we missed too many layups,” Bernardi said. “Give Lower Lake credit … they did a good job. They hit some shots and we made some mistakes.”
Hokulani Wickard led the Trojans with 29 points, the only Lower Lake player to score in double figures.
The game was close throughout as Cloverdale led 38-34 at halftime and 53-50 entering the fourth quarter.
In the rout of St. Helena three days earlier, the Eagles celebrated senior night by emptying their bench early against the Saints.
“We couldn’t miss a shot. We have those nights and that was one of them,” Bernardi said.
Scoring was spread out and four Eagles starters finished in double figures led by Persons with 19 points, Pope with 14, Hoover with 12 and McMillan with 10.
