Clover win moves Rady one step closer to No. 700

CLAYTON -- Defensive pressure kept the Cascade boys' basketball team on its heals all night, propelling the Cloverdale boys to a 55-43 victory Friday.

The Clovers applied pressure from the opening tip and didn't let up until the end of the game, forcing the Cadets to shoot 27 percent from the field.

The Cadets kept it close in the first quarter only down 9-6 going into the second.

From that point on, Cloverdale took control of the game, leading 23-15 at halftime. Cascade went eight minutes without scoring, ending their drought with 2:50 left in the second.

"I was very pleased with how we played tonight," said Pat Rady, head coach of the Clovers. "We played especially well on defensive."

Senior Jacob Clark led the way for the Clovers, scoring 23 points on the night, shooting 66 percent.

Rady said the team had been working hard throughout the week on its inside-out game to help free up their shooters.

"We stressed it all week and the kids came out and did a good job running the offense," said Rady. "We also got our fast break going tonight.

"When we look to pass, we can shoot the ball well," Rady said.

Seniors Brandon Moon and Kevin Dean also added 10 points each.

Leading the way for Cascade was sophomore Jaylon Western with 16 points, all in the second half after going 0-4 from the field in the first. Western fouled out of the game with just over a minute to go.

Cloverdale shot 46 percent on the night, and 39 percent from the foul line.

Cascade ended the game shooting 44 percent from behind the arch and 41 percent from the line.

Cloverdale moves to 8-2 on the season and will be at North Putnam next Friday night.

At Cascade

Cloverdale 9 14 12 20 55

Cascade 6 9 9 19 43

Individual Stats

Cloverdale -- Clark 23, Moon 10, Dean 10, Hayden 6, Salter 4, Fidler 2. Totals -- 21-45 FG, 9-23 FT, 55 TP.

Cascade -- Western 16, Daugherty 9, Aurthur, Alex 5, Dunn 5, Hopper 4, Baldwin 4. Totals -- 16-55 FG, 7-17 FT, 43.