Cloverdale High School varsity basketball teams continued a strong pre-league start with a flurry of action last week, as the Lady Eagles took two of three games played in the Orland Invitational Tournament in Corning, while the boys gained a split in a pair of outings.
At press time the ladies (6-1) were preparing for a Dec. 21 visit to Sonoma Academy (4:30 p.m.) while the boys (5-3) take a holiday break. Both teams will wrap up the preseason schedule next week, with the girls competing in the West Coast Jamboree (Dec. 28-30) and the boys participate in the Orestimba Invitational Tournament (Dec. 27-30).
Girls take second
The Lady Eagles took an unbeaten record into the Orland Invitational Tournament in Corning, opening up with a Dec. 14 clash with the tourney hosts.
Cloverdale got off to a sizzling start in racing to an 18-9 lead at the end of one before taking a comfortable 34-14 cushion into the half. The Eagles emptied their bench after intermission in cruising to a 49-37 win.
Pacing the Eagles’ offense were Camryn Figueroa (22 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals), Kayli Persons (9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals), Tehya Bird (9 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals), Shaye Stewart (5 points, 4 boards, 1 steal), Jaedyn Jenkins (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals), Catherine Driver (2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Cassendra Bassett (1 rebound, 1 assist), Maci Hernandez (3 rebounds) and Marina Lopez (1 rebound).
Cloverdale took on Gridley in Friday’s semifinal, battling tooth and nail in a tight contest. With the game in the balance, Jenkins nailed eight free throws in the final period to lift the Eagles to a 64-59 win. Leading the way were Figueroa (20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals), Jenkins (10 points, 3 assists), Persons (8 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal), Driver (7 points, 3 assists), Stewart (6 points, 4 boards, 1 assist), Bassett (5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Hernandez (4 points, 7 boards, 1 steal) and Bird 4 points, 2 rebounds).
The Lady Eagles squared off with Etna for the tourney championship on Saturday, spotting the Lions a 19-6 lead in the first quarter. Cloverdale trailed 34-24 at the half. The Eagles kept pace throughout the second half but Etna hung on for a 57-47 win.
“The slow start hurt us and we did not play well,” Eagles coach Rick Berry said later, noting the Lions 33-16 edge in foul shots. “We cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter and had several opportunities to close the gap but could not score.”
Figueroa secured all-tourney honors with a team-high 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Other top scorers were Jenkins (8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Persons (8 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal), Stewart (4 points, 5 rebounds), Driver (3 points, 3 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal) and Bassett (2 points, 4 boards, 2 assists.
Eagles gain split
The varsity boys continued a solid preseason with a pair of games, starting with a Dec. 12 trip to Healdsburg. Cloverdale had no answer for emerging Greyhound freshman Dylan Hayman, who led his team to a 29-18 lead at the half. The Eagles trailed by 16 after three en route to a 64-52 Healdsburg victory.
Jordan Persons led the Eagles with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals. Other top scorers included Christian Chavez (10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), Ross Sceales (9 points, 2 boards, 2 steals), Eli Arreola (7 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal), Drew Edens (5 points), Josh Lemley (3 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block), Alex Segobiano (2 points, 2 rebounds) and Marcos Jimenez (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist).
Cloverdale entertained visiting Elsie Allen in a barnburner the following night, erasing a four-point first quarter deficit with a 21-11 run in the second period for a 32-26 halftime lead. The Eagles led by 12 with only two minutes left when the Lobos staged a furious rally that would fall just short as the Eagles held on for a 65-64 victory.
Persons paced the offense with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, while other scorers included Sceales (12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Edens (10 points, 6 boards, 1 assist), Lemley (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks), Segobiano (6 points, 1 rebound), Arreola (2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal) and Chavez (1 point, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 3 steals).
