Cloverdale drops contest late to Eminence, 59-55

Friday, February 24, 2012
Cloverdale's Joe Fidler (22) led the Clovers in scoring with 14 points against Eminence Thursday.

EMINENCE -- Cloverdale's final game before the sectionals begin next week saw them travel to Eminence to play on Senior Night for the home side.

Seven Eel seniors were honored but it was a junior that made a memorable late contribution as Eminence won a tight 59-55 contest.

The Eels relied on three-point shooting to keep them in the contest throughout the game, giving Cloverdale notice by hitting three in the first period.

The Clovers were able to knock down several of their own and kept things tight through the first quarter, trailing 12-10.

Neither squad could break away from the other in a back and fourth second quarter that saw the lead trade hands on nearly every basket.

Cloverdale trailed 26-25 entering halftime but came roaring out of the gates in the second half.

Unable to utilize their size in the first half, the Clover back court began to slash to the basket at will, helping Cloverdale take the lead early in the third quarter and go into the final period up 45-38.

The visitors its 10 and had a nine point lead at 50-41 with six minutes to go when Eminence junior Devin Haymond made himself a factor.

Three straight Haymond three-pointers nodded the game at 50-all with 3:11 to go in the game, firing up the home crowd while seeming to suck the life out of the Clovers.

Eminence capitalized and built up a six point lead, winning the free throw competition down the stretch to ensure themselves a win to close the regular season.

Cloverdale head coach Pat Rady said that the intensity of the home side was greater than that of his squad.

"They were fired up. They had some guys out so they came out with some intensity and I'm not sure we matched their intensity. You have to do that," Rady said.

"In the fourth quarter, we let their shooters get open and they nailed them. It's a 32-minute ball game, and we have to realize that."

One bright spot for Cloverdale was extended minutes for returning junior Brody Pfaff, playing his second game since a knee injury suffered against Monrovia early in the season.

With added depth to the squad, Rady said that the squad needed some confidence before the sectional opener against South Putnam.

"We've got a bench now. We've just got to get people in and work with them so they have the confidence to get the job done," Rady said.

"Now, the season is over and we go into the sectional, where everybody is 0-0."

At Eminence

Cloverdale 10 15 20 10 -- 55

Eminence 12 14 12 21 -- 59

Individual Scoring

Cloverdale -- Fidler 14, Schroer 13, B. Dorman 9, Pfaff 8, Z. Dorman 6, Williams 5

Eminence -- Wagner 20, Ford 14, Haymond 9, Lewis 6, Ray 5, Moss 4, Goss 1