BOYS' PREVIEW: Successful Clovers ready to take everyone’s best shot this year

Cloverdale has won Putnam County titles the past two seasons and sectional crowns for the last three seasons.

The Clovers embark to extend those streaks without the services of graduated standout Cooper Neese, an Indiana All-Star selection who finished his career ranked as the seventh-leading scorer in state history.

One good thing for coach Patrick Rady is that Neese wasn’t even the team’s leading scorer last year, as Jalen Moore finished second in the state to rank two spots above Neese.

Moore returns for his senior season never having lost a sectional game, and Rady knows that opponents will be keying on the elusive 5-10 guard all season long.

“Obviously without Cooper that’s a lot of production to make up,” Rady said. “We’re not looking to do that with one person. We’re looking for a group of guys to make up for the scoring and rebounding.

“It’s a collective effort.”

Moore averaged 27.5 points per game last year, while Neese — who will play for Indiana State at mid-season next year after transferring from Butler this fall — averaged just a shade below at 27.5.

Jake Wilkes, a 6-3 junior, averaged 5.5 last season and senior Nick Winders chipped in with 4.2 points per game.

Rady noted that Neese’s absence will not only be felt on the stat sheet.

“Jalen and Nick have stepped up to be great leaders,” Rady said. “Those guys are top in sprints and tops in taking charge of things. I can see a different level of urgency from both of them.

“That makes practices better, and hopefully translates into wins and losses.”

Moore was able to rack up points in a variety of ways last season, as a good 3-point shooter, on drives to the basket and also at the foul line.

Rady has seen continued improvement in his standout guard, who participated in one of the two Indiana All-Star scrimmages last summer as a member of the Junior All-Stars..

“He’s gotten stronger and quicker, if you can believe that,” Rady said. “He really sees things well. It’s like the game has slowed down for him; he just knows where everybody needs to be, and his passing is what has caught my eye in practice this year.

“He’s making the right reads, and is getting the ball where it needs to go.”

Neese led the team in rebounding last season at 9.5 per game, and Seth Pfaff (the other graduated senior) added 3.4 per game.

Wilkes and Winders are the tallest players on the roster at 6-3, and the rebounding chores will need to be picked up by them.

“Jake Wilkes is really athletic, and has gotten better,” Rady said. “He’s playing above the rim right now. That’s going to be key for us especially at the defensive end.

“He can stretch the defense and knock down threes as well,” he added. “Nick Winders is stronger than last year, and is starting to finish stronger around the basket. You’ll see some pick-and-pop from him.”

Others who will look to provide support for Moore are juniors Parker Watts, Clayton Miller and Jake Kelley and freshmen Nolan Kelley and Walker Sims.

Watts got the most varsity time last season among that group, averaging 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game.

“We don’t really have a starting lineup right now,” Rady said earlier this week. “It may be different from game to game, depending upon the matchups and the scouting report.”

Last year, the Clovers averaged 72.4 points per game — not a shocking statistic considering they had two of the top four individual scorers.

Rady does not anticipate the offensive output to be that high this season, and knows his team will need to concentrate on the defensive end to be able to continue its recent success.

“Defense starts on the halfcourt,” he said. “We will extend it from there. That goes from pressuring the ball to being in good helpside position — then finishing the play by getting the rebound.

“Defense has been the overall theme for us this year,” Rady said. “That has to be our mentality. To continue winning championships you have to be able to guard in the halfcourt.”

Rady expects to get the best shot from all opponents this season, due to their success over the past several years.

“That’s to be expected,” he said. “The kids are ready for it. We have added more teams to our schedule who have great traditions [such as Terre Haute South and Indianapolis Manual] who are looking to have great seasons. That will only help us to get better as tourney time approaches.

“That has helped us the past two years,” Rady added. “That’s the ultimate test. Everything we do in the regular season prepares us for March.”

Rady is in his third season as head coach at Cloverdale after taking over from his Hall of Fame father, Pat.

He has enjoyed the ride to this point, and doesn’t feel any particular pressure on continuing to win at a high rate.

“Once you have tasted success, you want more,” he said. “We talk to our kids about dreaming bigger than what we have accomplished the past three years.

“The sectional and county both have good teams in them. All three county schools are better, so we know it’s not going to be easy.”

2017-18 roster

Coach: Patrick Rady

2016-17 results (21-7)

Illini Bluffs (Ill.) W,76-68

Edgewood L,74-77

at Southmont L,69-83

North Central W,100-32

Indian Creek L,74-97

Park Tudor L,63-74

at South Putnam W,66-47

at Brown County W,67-51

Monrovia (ot) W,74-71

Linton-Stockton L,54-67

South Vermillion W,48-44

Marshall (Ill.) W,75-74

Robinson (Ill.) W,67-63

at Owen Valley W,80-64

Franklin County (Ky.) W,88-64

at Cascade W,76-74

North Putnam W,92-78

at Clay City W,82-60

at Greencastle W,46-34

Sullivan W,71-59

Danville L,76-79

South Putnam W,66-45

at Greencastle W,65-48

Shakamak W,84-45

Sectional

Southmont {2A} W,100-62

North Putnam W,61-51

Monrovia W,74-61

Regional

Northeastern L,59-67

2017-18 schedule

Nov. 25 — at T.H. South 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1 — at Edgewood 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — Southmont 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 — at Indian Creek 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 — at Monrovia 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 — South Putnam 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Brown County 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — Greencastle 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 26-29 — Wabash Valley Tournament at Terre Haute North

Jan. 5 — Owen Valley 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 — Cascade 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 — at North Putnam 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — Clay City 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — WIC Crossover

Jan. 27 — Delphi 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 — at Danville 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 — vs. North Putnam in county tourney at South Putnam, 6 p.m.

Feb. 9 — Consolation/finals

Feb. 16 — Ind. Manual 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 — at Shakamak 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 — at Rockville 7:30 p.m.