Second season win eludes Cloverdale

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Cloverdale junior Bristy Skiles fires in three of her team-high 17 points during the first have of the Clovers loss to Eastern Greene Tuesday

CLOVERDALE -- Coming off their emotional first win of the season, the Cloverdale Clovers hosted Eastern Greene Tuesday and proved their improved play was no fluke. Cloverdale came out fast and feisty and gave the 10-win Thunderbirds all they could handle.

However, in the end, Eastern Greene outlasted the Clovers and came away with a 56-41 victory. The loss drops Cloverdale to 1-18 on the season.

After Eastern Greene built a 6-0 lead, Cloverdale displayed the tenacity that delivered it its first win of the season this past Friday. Cloverdale began pressuring the Thunderbirds and outscoring them 9-4 to close out the opening quarter. The Clovers trailed the Thunderbirds 12-11.

Cloverdale continued its hot play and fought the Thunderbirds to a 25-all halftime score. The Clovers were riding high, but Eastern Greene came out in the second half and took advantage of some Cloverdale miscues and began to build its advantage.

In the third quarter, Eastern Greene was able to erase an early four-point lead by the Clovers and take a 37-32 advantage into the final quarter.

Still within striking distance, Cloverdale dug in their heels to fight, but they found an unkind rim and a pressuring Eastern Greene team. What resulted was the Thunderbirds were able to jump out to a 48-34 lead before Cloverdale's Bristy Skiles was able to respond with a long three.

But as the minutes continued to tick away, Cloverdale was unable to close the gap, allowing the Thunderbirds to come away with a 56-41 victory.

The Clovers were outscored in the second half 31-16 by the Thunderbirds. Cloverdale looked as if they were beginning to run out of steam as the game came to a close, but showed the obvious improvement which led them to their first win of the season.

Skiles led all scorers with 17 points, while Amillia Nally chipped in 11 points. Paige Gruener scored seven, Katie Fulkerson had four and Cedar Woodworth added two points.

The Clovers will travel to South Putnam Friday at 6 p.m.

At Cloverdale

Eastern Greene 12 13 12 19 -- 56

Cloverdale 11 14 7 9 -- 41

Individual Scoring

Eastern Greene -- Milnes 17, Wagner 14, Ray 8, Spice 6, Igel 6, Hammock 3, Sherfield 2. Totals: 24-64 FG, 5-9 FT, 56 TP.

Cloverdale -- Skiles 17, Nally 11, Gruener 7, Fulkerson 4, Woodworth 2. Totals: 15-41 FG, 4-7 FT, 41 TP.

Next game -- The Clovers will travel to South Putnam Friday at 6 p.m.