Lady Clover basketball to change focus to defense

CLOVERDALE--The Clover girls' basketball team lost at home to Eastern Greene on Saturday, 60-34.

The Lady Clovers (3-3) managed to stay close at halftime but lost their edge as the game wore on.

"We started pretty well," Clover coach Matt Langdon said. "We had a different challenge in Eastern Greene. They have a 6-2 girl (sophomore Kayla Rodgers). She has really improved since last year."

While Cloverdale went into the second quarter down 16-9, the team wasn't able to take advantage when a chance to make a run presented itself.

"We were only down seven at the end of the first," Langdon said. "We missed an opportunity in the second when (Rodgers) went out with some foul trouble. We just didn't play well in the second and a lot of times, how you finish a half is how you finish the game."

Defense will be first on the agenda in the coming days according to Langdon, who was not pleased with the result despite the effort of the Lady Clovers.

"We can't have teams scoring 60 points," Langdon said. "Over the last few years, we've really worked on offense. We've seen the results. We've had a few games now when we've been around 40 but now we have to turn that focus to defense."

After halftime Eastern Greene outscored Cloverdale 17-9 and then 10-4 in the fourth. Kimmy Winders led all Clover scorers with 12. Freshman Abby Walker scored six with two three pointers and senior Laura Worthington scored another three.

Langdon said his team, while it has a short time to rest in between games, will use any advantages it can in the future to ensure defensive success.

"We have film for the first time this year," Langdon said. "They'll be able to see some things. Sometimes just knowing where to go can make a difference."

The Clovers' next game will be against Turkey run on Monday at home.

At Cloverdale

Eastern Greene 16 17 17 10 - 60

Cloverdale 9 12 9 4 - 34

Individual scoring

Eastern Greene Butler 7 4-5 18, Rogers 6 1-2 13, Sparks 2 0-0 4, Miller 1 0-0 2, Tarr 2 4-4 10, Cramer 1 0-0 2, Skinner 3 0-0 6, Blocher 0 0-0 0, Falin 1 0-0 2, Lucas 1 1-1 3. Totals 24 10-12 60.

Cloverdale (34) - Worthington 2 1-2 6, Hamm 1 1-4 3, Dorsett 0 0-0 0, Stevens 3 0-2 6,Winders 6 0-0 12, Walker 2 0-0 6, Pieper 0 1-2 1, Meek 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Huge 0 0-0 Totals 14 3-10 34.

3-pointers - Eastern Greene 2 (Tarr 2), Cloverdale 3 (Walker 2, Worthington).