Vikings storm past Cloverdale 52-21

Cloverdale senior Megan Helterbrand throws an entry pass to the low post during Tuesday's game against West Vigo. The Clovers assisted on 75 percent of their made field goals in the game. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CLOVERDALE -- A relatively even game at halftime, the West Vigo girls' basketball team stormed out to a quick run to start the third quarter to put away host Cloverdale 52-21 on Tuesday.

The Clovers (4-9, 0-2 West Central) trailed by just one after the first quarter and 21-12 at the break before the Vikings took control in the third.

West Vigo (6-5, 2-3 Western Indiana) put up 12 points in the third quarter before Cloverdale got a shot and completed the quarter with a 26-2 run.

"We accomplished a lot of what we wanted to do (in practice) over break and I think we saw a lot of it in the first half," CHS coach Matthew Langdon said. "We just didn't have it in the third. We've got to really figure out if it was just a small, mental letdown or if we were just tired. If we were tired, then we've just got to condition a little bit more."

The Clovers started the game on their own tempo, slowing the pace and slicing through the Vikings' full court trap.

When they reached the front court, they failed to capitalize. Passes were picked off by trailing defenders and, more importantly, shots weren't falling.

The Vikings defended near the basket without fouling and, aside from a couple outside shots from senior Megan Helterbrand and sophomore Payton Dorsett, nothing was dropping for Cloverdale.

Helterbrand, with five points, finished as the Clovers' leading scorer.

"They're getting confident (with pressure)," Landgon said. "I think beating a press is a lot about being confident enough to look up the floor and dribble through and see an open person.

"What we're really hurting at is, we're breaking the press but we're not seizing the opportunities. We're not making them pay for it. ... When we can't score off those, they're going to keep pressing, which makes it an upbeat game."

With West Vigo continuing to press, Cloverdale gradually lost its command and started forcing plays, which played into the hands of the visitors.

The Clovers' second unit took over to start the fourth and, led by senior Chelsea Combs, tightened the game a bit but still finished well short.

Combs led the Clovers with six rebounds, all of them in the fourth.

"I was really happy to see her come in," Langdon said. "She's had a great attitude and I was very happy to see her get some good minutes. That'll possibly earn some future minutes for her."

All 10 of the 11 players who saw action for Cloverdale got on the scoreboard.

Helterbrand had two steals and also drew a charge. Junior Taylor Clark had three rebounds and six blocks.

Cloverdale will be back in action Friday at WCC-rival Cascade beginning at 6 p.m.

West Vigo (52): Little 3-9 0-0 7, S Elkins 3-5 1-1 7, Cardinal 3-6 0-0 6, L Elkins 3-7 0-2 6, Lane 3-5 0-0 8, Barton 2-3 2-2 6, Edington 1-7 0-0 3, Houser 1-5 0-0 2, Pointer 0-2 1-2 1, Hudson 0-2 0-0 0, Voils 0-0 0-0 0, Couldry 0-0 0-0 0, Morrison 0-0 0-0 0. Total 21-50 5-14 52.
Cloverdale (21): M Helterbrand 2-6 0-0 5, Dorsett 1-4 0-0 3, Stevens 1-8 0-0 2, Clark 1-4 0-0 2, Winders 0-3 0-0 0, Worthington 1-4 0-0 2, Combs 1-1 0-0 2, Meek 1-4 0-0 2, Pieper 0-2 1-2 1, K Helterbrand 0-3 1-4 1, Huge 0-1 1-2 1. Total 8-40 3-8 21.