Clovers' defense leads to win at Cascade

Cloverdale senior Kedrick Collett drives in for a layup attempt against Cascade on Friday. Collett had 11 points in the win. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

CLAYTON -- The Cloverdale boys' basketball team traveled to take on the Cascade Cadets and, after a near collapse, came back to Cloverdale victorious, 74-67.

The Clovers (10-1, 3-0 West Central) used their playmaking ability and their defensive prowess to take control of the game at the end and hold on for the win over the Cadets (2-10, 1-1 WCC).

"I was pleased," Cloverdale head coach Pat Rady said. "We had to be a little smart and take some time off the clock. I thought we were able to do that and we spread the floor."

Cascade never did hold a lead in the game and that was due to the first half push that Cloverdale got.

The Clovers defense was spectacular in the first half and only allowed 29 points and took the lead 41-29.

The backcourt duo of freshman Cooper Neese and junior Marquise Moore forced nine turnovers which led to fast break layups.

Cascade stayed in the game because of their own duo of seniors Colton Jones and Hayden Suter, who scored a combined 22 points in the first half.

The Cloverdale defense slacked off in the third quarter, and with it the offense, and the Cadets cut the deficit to seven at the end of the third frame. The Cadets got as close as one in the fourth quarter but their free throw shooting hurt them. After making 12 straight to start the game, Cascade missed its next five.

The defense of the Clovers started to struggle, so Rady called a timeout and tried to figure something out.

"I was concerned about our defense," Rady said. "I thought we switched to a defense that kind of bothered them some and I thought that helped us in the final two minutes as well."

On two separate occasions the Cadets had the chance to take the lead at the line and both times they failed to convert on even one free throw.

Down three in the closing moments the Cadets were forced to start fouling and the Clovers kept getting the ball in the hands of Moore.

"We were able to hit our free throws," Rady said. "We got the ball in the hands of the guy that was hot at the free throw line and he hit the free throws. He was 10-for-11 tonight."

Despite making more field goals, the Clovers were outrebounded by one, but allowed just six offensive boards.

"We had certain guys who did a great job of rebounding," Rady said. "Some of our big kids were on the bench in foul trouble and that hurt us."

No matter how ugly it was, the win pushed Cloverdale to 10-1 for the first time in more than 20 years.

"This was a good win," Rady said. "Cascade is a good ball club and we knew they'd really be up for us. They are well coached and they were very emotional. It was a hard-fought will and a good team win for us."

Cloverdale (74): Moore 9-16 10-11 28, Neese 9-20 2-7 22, Collett 4-7 0-1 11, Schroer 3-5 1-5 9, Scott 2-4 0-1 4. Total: 27-52 (7-18) 13-25, 74.
Cascade (67): Suter 23, Jones 18, Butler 11, Hostetler 4, Parsons 4, Hart 3, Burch 2, Smith 2. Total: 19-35 (5-12) 14-17, 67.