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Clovers drop contest to Speedway
SPEEDWAY -- The story was the same for the Cloverdale boys' basketball team Tuesday when they traveled to Speedway for a West Central Conference battle.
They simply couldn't get the ball in the hoop.
The Clovers shot 34 percent from the field and lost the contest 48-41 to the Sparkplugs. The loss drops Cloverdale to 10-10 on the season, with one game left before the tournament.
Despite their shooting woes, Cloverdale head coach Pat Rady attributed the outcome of the game to the quality of opponent the Clovers faced Tuesday.
"That's a good ballclub," Rady commented. "Speedway is a fine ballclub, they haven't lost a game in the conference and they proved that they're well coached. You just have to bring you're a-game and at times we had our a-game and at times we didn't.
"To beat a team like Speedway, you have to play 32 minutes and we just didn't do that tonight. We got another game to play before the tournament and we have to get ready for the tournament, so we have to keep our heads up and keep going," he added.
The Clovers are riding a four-game losing streak and it all boils down to an unkind iron. The team is getting good opportunities, but the shots will not fall. If they're going to have a breakthrough, it's going to have to come on the road against Eminence Thursday.
After having spent the majority of the game with a 10-point deceit staring at them, Cloverdale was able to unleash some of their offensive threats in the fourth and pull within five late.
Entering the final quarter, CHS trailed 37-27, but a big three from Brandon Moon got the offense going. For the first time all game, the Clovers let their offense come to them and they found easy points under the basket.
Kevin Dean was able to convert two buckets underneath to pull Cloverdale within five at 39-34. However, Speedway was able to make its free throws and that made all the difference.
Cloverdale stayed close in the first quarter, trailing by only four at 14-10, but Speedway outscored the Clovers 12-6 in the second and that would provide a cushion they would ride for the remainder of the contest.
Again, the Clovers gained minimal trips to the line and were outscored 16-6 at the charity stripe.
Moon led all scorers with 22 points, with Dean adding nine and Jacob Clark five.
A losing streak close to the end of the season is something no coach would ask for, but Rady has the faith that if his team stays on track, everything will take care of itself.
"Hopefully we'll just keep going and sooner or later, I think if you stay in it long enough, as they say the tide will turn. We just have to stay positive and keep playing and we'll be OK," Rady commented.
Cloverdale will travel to Eminence Thursday with the junior varsity tipping at 6 p.m.
At Speedway
Cloverdale 10 6 11 14 -- 41
Speedway 14 12 11 11 -- 48
Individual Stats
Cloverdale (41) -- Moon 22, Dean 9, Clark 5, Salter 3, Moore 2. Totals: 15-44 FG, 6-9 FT, 41 TP.
Speedway (48) -- Lewis 20, West 13, Daghe 11, Dial 3, Rosebrough 1. Totals: 16-42 FG, 16-23 FT, 48 TP.
Next game -- Cloverdale will travel to Eminence Thursday with the junior varsity tipping at 6 p.m.