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Clovers pick up sweep over Brown County
CLOVERDALE — In a pair of games epitomizing the common coaching mantra that “it was ugly, but we’ll take it,” Cloverdale swept a pair of Western Indiana Conference basketball games from Brown County on Friday night.
Both Clover teams improved to 2-1 in conference play, with two games left to go.
Cloverdale won the girls’ game 51-48, needing a pair of free throws from Tori Combs in the final nine seconds to wrap things up.
In the boys’ game, Clover standout Jalen Moore was a little under the weather — but the state’s leading scorer was able to fight through any problems to equal his season average with 36 points in a 60-43 win.
The girls’ game began as if it would be an offensive shootout, as the Clovers got a late trey from Abby Walker to take a 18-16 lead at the first stop.
The second quarter was also played to a near draw, as the Eagles hit 6 of 10 baskets in the period to force a 31-31 tie.
After each team scored to open the second half, neither team scored for two minutes before the Clovers got seven straight points on a Lakkain Price free throw and two more Walker treys for a 40-33 lead.
Cloverdale extended that lead to as much as 47-39 in the fourth period before BC put on a late charge.
The guests went on a 9-2 run at that point to come within 49-48, but Combs hit her clutch free throws to pull out the win.
“We were kind of loose with the ball tonight, and we had too many turnovers,” Cloverdale coach Matthew Langdon said. “We wanted to drive the ball more, and we did that. It’s good they are listening and we need to get to where we finish.”
The Clovers came out of the gate strongly in the boys’ game, taking an early 11-5 lead behind nine points from Moore.
Brown County cut the gap to 11-8 at the first stop, but the Clovers opened the second period on a 16-4 run to get some breathing room. The Eagles self-destructed against the Cloverdale press, committing 15 first-half turnovers and adding 14 more in the second half for a disastrous night of taking care of the ball.
The Clovers led 44-25 after three periods, and the Eagles were able to hang with them the rest of the way in spite of their turnovers.
Moore’s 36 points included 3 of 9 from 3-point range and 13 of 17 from the free throw line — marking the second straight game he took every free throw his team attempted.
“Our other guys are getting confidence and showing confidence, and that’s a good sign,” Cloverdale coach Patrick Rady said. “Especially the first three quarters. Clayton Miller came in off the bench and didn’t score, but he was everywhere on defense. He really was a key for us.”
The Clovers have another big game tonight by hosting Greencastle, which is their fifth game in nine days.
“Greencastle is playing very well,” Rady said. “They are really good, and will be one of the best defensive teams we’ll play all year. They’re scoring more now, too.
“They have more weapons that just Colin [York],” he added. “They have some nice pieces, and it will be a tough one.”
Girls’ game
BROWN COUNTY (48) — Wilkerson 4-8 0-0 8, Fleetwood 1-3 2-2 4, Stogsdill 4-13 1-1 9, Hollander 4-13 0-2 8, Morgan 5-7 2-4 12, Matlock 1-6 0-0 2, Smith 1-1 2-4 4. Totals 20-52 FG, 7-14 FT, 48 TP
CLOVERDALE (51) — Combs 2-5 7-11 11, Shrum 7-16 1-2 15, Walker 5-10 4-8 14, Thomas 1-5 0-0 2, McCracken 2-8 0-3 4, Price 2-2 1-2 5, Wade 0-1 0-0 0, Shoemaker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 FG, 9-16 FT, 51 TP
Brown County 16 15 4 13 — 48
Cloverdale 18 13 9 11 — 51
3-point shooting — BC 1-10 (Wilkerson 0-3, Stogsdill 1-6, Hollander 0-1), Cloverdale 4-18 (Shrum 0-3, Walker 4-8, Thomas 0-3, McCracken 0-4). Turnovers — BC 10, Cloverdale 21.
Boys’ game
BROWN COUNTY (43) — Keefauver 8-16 0-0 16, Scully 4-9 0-0 10, Carter 1-7 4-6 6, McPheeters 1-1 0-0 2, Yeager 1-4 0-0 3, Ely 0-3 0-0 0, Heminger 3-5 0-0 6, Malon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-46 FG, 4-6 FT, 43 TP
CLOVERDALE (60) — Moore 10-25 13-17 36, Wilkes 4-9 0-0 8, Winders 0-2 0-0 0, J.Kelley 2-5 0-0 4, N.Kelley 2-8 0-0 6, Watts 2-7 0-0 6, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Ashcraft 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-57 FG, 13-17 FT, 60 TP
Brown County 8 7 10 18 — 43
Cloverdale 11 21 12 16 — 60
3-point shooting — BC 3-13 (Keefauver 0-1, Scully 2-6, Yeager 1-2, Heminger 0-1, Carter 0-2), Cloverdale 7-25 (Moore 3-9, Wilkes 0-1, J.Kelley 0-2, N.Kelley 2-6, Watts 2-6). Turnovers— Cloverdale 7, Brown County 29.