Clovers destroy Eminence

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale Clovers boys' basketball team hosted the Eminence Eels Friday night in the final tune up before the postseason begins next week at South Putnam.

The Clovers were celebrating senior night before a huge crowd, and Cloverdale didn't disappoint the crowd.

The Clovers exploded out of the gate at the start of the game, scoring eight points in the first minute of the game, resulting from two steals and two assists.

From the beginning to the end of the game, Cloverdale dominated the game on both ends of the floor, and earned their 15th win of the season, 84-48.

It was a team victory in every way as every Cloverdale player got into the scoring column and contributed to the win in the every phase of the game.

The Clovers won the game by having an advantage in every statistical category.

Cloverdale hit 64 percent of its two-point shots, 71 percent of its free throws, grabbed 35 rebounds, blocked four of Eminence's shots, passed for 18 assists, stole the ball 15 times, and the Clovers' defense forced the Eels to commit 25 turnovers.

"It was a good win for us," commented Cloverdale coach Pat Rady after the game. "This week we had three games and to win two of the three, and even the one we lost, there were a lot more positive things than negative ones, so we're very pleased with the week.

"We caught Eminence on a down side, as they had two games this week with overtimes, so they were a little tired and that allowed us to wear them down. So we had a little advantage there.

"You have to give credit to this group of young men. From where we started to where we are at now, you have to give credit to them for sacrificing many, long hours, and with much dedication, they have become a team. This is a good example of what team basketball is all about."

"These guys have carried on the great tradition of Cloverdale basketball," Rady added.

Cloverdale had three players who scored in double figures. Craig Blair, the leading scorer in the game, had 22, and Christian Cheatham and Michael Neese had 21 and 17, respectively.

Ryan Shoulders had six points, Kevin Gregg, Jason Salter, and Ryan Dean added four each, Brandon Moon scored three, Seth Trinkle had two points, and Justin Hacker closed out the Clover scoring with one points.

Blair pulled down seven rebounds, and Shoulders grabbed six while Cheatham and Gregg snared five boards each.

Dean had two blocked shots and Neese, Cheatham and Gregg had a game-high of three steals each. Neese also had a game-high five steals, and Blair and Trinkle had four and three a piece.

Prior to the game, Cloverdale honored Neese, Cheatham, Gregg, Shoulders, Hacker and Trinkle as seniors.

In the junior varsity game, Cloverdale were defeated by Eminence, 33-32.

Brandon Moon led the Clover scoring with 11 points, followed by Robbie Randall with seven, Michael Glassburn and Kevin Dean with five each and Jason Salter closedout Cloverdale's scoring with two points.

The Clovers (15-6, 5-1 WCC) travel to South Putnam Wednesday night to open sectional play against the Cascade Cadets. The game begins at 6 p.m.

At Cloverdale

Eminence 8 17 10 13 -- 48

Cloverdale 24 25 19 16 -- 84

Cloverdale (15-6, 5-1 WCC) -- Moon 1-1 0-0 3, Neese 7-15 2-2 17, Blair 9-12 2-2 22, Trinkle 1-2 0-0 2, Cheatham 8-16 5-7 21, Shoulders 3-4 0-2 6, Gregg 1-6 2-2 4, Hacker 0-5 1-2 1, Salter 2-2 0-0 4, Dean 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 42-65 FG, 19-53 FT, 84 TP.

Eminence (9-11, 1-4 TRC) -- Whaley 0-4 1-2 1, Moss 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 4-9 0-0 10, Lockwood 0-4 0-0 0, Adkisson 3-8 1-4 7, Shupe 2-5 0-0 4, Ford 2-7 4-4 8, Stinson 8-13 1-2 18, Uhde 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 FG, 7-12 FT, 48 TP.

3-pt. FG - C 4-18 (Blair 2-4), E 3-15 (Smith 2-5). Rebounds - C 35 (Blair 7), E 31 (Adkisson 8). Blocks -- C 4 (Dean 2), E 2 (Adkisson 1, Stinson 1). Assists -- C 18 (Neese 5), E 5 (Whaley 3). Steals -- C 15 (Neese 3, Cheatham 3, Gregg 3), E 8 (Smith 3). Total fouls -- C 11, E 16. Fouled out -- none. Turnovers -- C 13, E 25.

Junior Varsity -- Cloverdale lost, 33-32.

Next game -- The Clovers (15-6, 5-1 WCC) travel to South Putnam Wednesday night to open Sectional play against the Cascade Cadets. The game begins at 6 p.m.