Cloverdale edges Cadets with 4-point win

CLOVERDALE -- Upon entering the locker room after Friday night's game, a joyous Cloverdale boys basketball team serenaded their coach in their rendition of "Happy Birthday."

It was Pat Rady's, 70th birthday and the boys pulled out yet another win for him in thrilling fashion over Cascade 53-49. The win moves their record to 5-7 on the year.

"We persevered tonight," said Rady. "It was a good team win for us.

"They had a strong will to win tonight."

With 50 seconds remaining in the game, the Clovers found themselves trailing 49-45. After a missed shot by Cascade, the Clovers brought the ball down the court where senior Jordan Hayden hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one. On the ensuing possession Donavan Scisney stole the ball and took it the length of the court for an easy lay-up giving the Clovers the lead.

From there junior Chuck Strunk hit two free throws after Cascade lost the ball under its own basket turning the ball over to the Clovers. Strunk's two shots iced the game for the Clovers.

Two weeks earlier the two teams faced off in the opening round game of the South Putnam Holiday Tournament. That game went down to the wire with Cloverdale winning in the final seconds. Cloverdale went on to win the tournament.

A joyous Rady said Cascade always brings out the best in his team. The two West Central Conference foes could meet again in sectional action later this year.

"These two games against Cascade have been our best games of the year," he said.

With 4:47 left in the fourth quarter and his team down six, Rady called a timeout to regroup his team. At that timeout he changed up the team's trapping defense and offensive sets to help them claw back into the game.

"After that point they executed it well," he said.

Leading the way for the Clovers in double figures was Hayden with 17 and Mitch Williams with 15.

The Clovers and Cadets battled on both ends of the court from the opening tip of the game. Pressure defense by both teams kept the game close. Cascades biggest lead on the night was seven points.

The Clovers shot 51-percent from the field on the night.

Leading the way for Cascade was Jeffery Hopper with 14 and J.T. Thomas with 13.

The Clovers will travel to Clay City tonight.

At Cloverdale

Cloverdale 10 17 10 16 -- 53

Cascade 12 9 23 5 -- 49

Individual Stats

Cloverdale -- Hayden 17, Williams 15, Scisney 7, Fidler 6, Arnold 4, Burdette 3, Strunk 1. Totals: 19-37 FG, 11-16 FT, 53 TP.

Cascade -- Hopper 14, Thomas 13, Arthur 7, Baldwin 7, Dunn 4, Daugherty 4. Totals: 17-39 FG, 13-16 FT, 49 TP.