Clover girls avoid turnovers, get big victory

CLOVERDALE — The Cloverdale Clovers had a full slate on Tuesday night. The Lady Clovers took time to honor their seniors, their top 10 all-time scorers and their coaches.

Oh, yea, they had to play a game against Rockville as well.

The Clovers did their seniors and alumni proud by exploding out of the gate for a 25-point first quarter that turned into a 61-40 victory over the Rox.

“We are playing with a lot of confidence and a new attitude to start the game,” Clover coach Matthew Langdon said. “We have a goal to score 10 points in the first four minutes of the game. We did that tonight. That (Rockville) is a good 10-9 team with two big post players.”

The Clovers (12-8) jumped out to an 11-3 lead and harassed the Rox (10-10) into nine turnovers in the first quarter.

Cloverdale hit 9-of-15 from the floor in the quarter and Abby Walker hit four of her six three-pointers in the period. The Clovers posted a 25-10 first-quarter lead and never allowed the Rox to get close after that.

“We got a quick three from Abby Walker and then she just caught fire,” Langdon said. “Since her injury she has been trying to get back into the flow of the game. Tonight was a great night for her.”

Cloverdale maintained its edge in the second quarter. The Clovers continued to bomb away from downtown. Walker hit a three and Sammie Shrum and Hailey Thomas picked up treys as well.

Cloverdale’s pressure defense was a key for the Clovers. Rockville struggled handling the Clover press in the first half and the Cloverdale went to the locker room with a 36-20 lead.

“We have been able to get some pressure without getting hurt on the backside,” Langdon said. “It really helps with our mindset in playing aggressively.”

Cloverdale’s offensive efficiency wasn’t just shooting the ball. The Clovers only turned the ball over seven times on the night and had zero turnovers in the first half.

“Hearing we had no turnovers in the first half was great. We really played well offensively and executed what we wanted to,” Langdon said.

Cloverdale cooled off a little in the third quarter shooting just 3-of-17 from the field, but still put 10 points on the board and Rockville couldn’t cut into the lead as the Clovers continued to apply the defensive pressure and the quarter ended with 46-30 Clover lead.

The Clovers finished the game well in the fourth quarter. Cloverdale substituted liberally emptying its bench and allowing the team to enjoy the festive night and closed strong with 15-point fourth quarter and a 21-point victory.

Langdon had high praise for seniors Lauren Meek, Kelsey Helterbrand and Payten Simpson following their final home game.

“It was a great testament to our seniors. Kelsey, Lauren, Payten all accepted their roles,” Langdon said. “They never complain and work hard providing us with leadership.”

The Clovers were led by Walker with 18 points. Tori Combs continued to be a double-double machine with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Baylee Breedlove led the Rox with 19 points and 10 boards, while Kassidy Frazier added 11 points.

The Clovers will travel to West Vigo Friday night in the Western Indiana Conference crossover game. Cloverdale will play the Vikings in a matchup determining ninth and 10th place in the WIC.

ROCKVILLE (40) – Carrington 4-10 1-1 9, Breedlove 6-11 7-10 19, Pierce 0-1 0-0 0, Frazier 3-4 5-7 11, Dugger 0-1 0-0 0, Buell 0-1 0-0 0, Jeffries 0-1 1-2 1, Keifner 0-0 0-0 0, Millspaugh 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-29 FG, 14-20 FT, 40 TP.

CLOVERDALE (61) – Shrum 2-12 1-1 6, Thomas 3-10 1-2 9, Walker 6-12 0-0 18, Combs 6-12 5-7 17, Helterbrand 2-4 0-0 5, Price 2-5 0-5 4, Meek 0-2 0-0 0, Shoemaker 0-0 0-0 0, McCracken 1-1 0-0 2, Simpson 0-0 0-0 0, Shoemaker 0-0 0-0 0, Shedron 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 FG, 7-15 FT, 61 TP.

Rockville 10 10 10 10 – 40

Cloverdale 25 11 10 15 – 61

3-point shooting – RHS 0-3, CHS 10-24 (Shrum 1-2, Thomas 2-7, Walker 6-12, Helterbrand 1-1, Meek 0-2). Rebounds – RHS 32 (Carrington 7, Breedlove 10, Pierce 2, Frazier 12) CHS – 26 (Shrum 4, Thomas 1, Walker 1, Combs 14, Price 3, Helterbrand 3) FG Pct. – RHS 44.8, CHS 37.9. FT Pct. – RHS 70.0, CHS 46.7. Turnovers – RHS 22, CHS 7.

In other girls’ basketball:

• South Putnam 59, North Central 17 — On Monday, the Eagles opened up a 16-6 lead after one quarter and were never challenged in recording their 12th win of the year.

The Eagles increased their lead to 49-10 at halftime and 61-15 after three quarters.

Lillie Stein led the Eagles with 15 points, but got strong support from Miranda Bieghler with 13, Aubrey Barker with 10, Lexi Vanihel with nine and Caitlin Capps with eight.

NORTH CENTRAL (17) — Moody 1 0-0 3, Chilton 0 0-0 0, Dunn 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0, E.Shroyer 2 0-0 4, R.Shroyer 4 2-2 10, Manning 0 0-0 0, Stone 0 0-2 0. Brunton 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 FG, 2-4 FT, 17 TP

SOUTH PUTNAM (59) — Boswell 1 0-0 2, Nichols 1 0-2 2, Bieghler 5 2-4 13, Bratcher 0 0-0 0, Vanihel 4 0-0 9, Barker 5 0-0 10, Vensko 0 0-0 0, Hill 0 0-0 0, Capps 4 0-1 8, Stein 6 2-2 15. Totals 26 FG, 4-9 FT, 59 TP

North Central 6 4 5 2 — 17

South Putnam 16 23 12 8 — 59

3-point goals — Bieghler, Vanihel, Stein, Moody.

Next game — South Putnam (12-8) will host an undetermined opponent on Friday in the Western Indiana Conference for seventh place. North Central fell to 3-16.

• Southmont 45, North Putnam 37 — At New Market, the Cougars trailed 13-4 after one quarter and 24-9 at halftime but came back in the second half to make it a close game.

North Putnam outscored the Mounties 18-12 in the third period and 10-9 in the fourth.

“We had a rough start,” North Putnam coach Jarrod Duff said. “From the 3:00 mark in the third quarter to the end, we really turned it up on defense and started moving the ball well on offense.”

Emilee Henninger had 12 points to lead the Cougars, while Aleah Duncan added six and Lyndi Parent and Mia Runnels had five each.

NORTH PUTNAM (37) — Duncan 2 1-2 6, Sims 1 0-0 2, Runnels 2 0-0 5, Young 0 0-0 0, Osburn 1 0-0 2, Lyons 1 0-0 3, Parent 2 1-2 5, Henninger 4 4-11 12, Tennis 1 0-0 2, Spencer 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 FG, 6-15 FT, 37 TP

SOUTHMONT (45) — Hess 2 4-7 8, Case 2 4-5 8, Burton 3 6-10 12, Ward 2 0-0 4, McVay 4 0-0 8, Link 1 3-6 5, Ward 0 0-0 0. Knowling 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 FG, 17-28 FT, 45 TP

North Putnam 4 5 18 10 — 37

Southmont 13 11 12 9 — 45

3-point goals — Duncan, Runnels, Lyons.

Next game — North Putnam (1-16) plays at Indianapolis International on Thursday. Southmont improved to 9-9.