Menu
Cloverdale boys too much for Shakamak
CLOVERDALE--For the first minutes of Tuesday night's varsity boys' basketball game between Cloverdale and Shakamak, there were some uneasy glances being made around the gym as the Clover offense sputtered out of the gates and trailed 7-5.
A 15-0 run to close the quarter and a 27-0 run to open the second half eased any fears as the hosts rolled the Lakers 81-39.
Cloverdale head coach Pat Rady said the players responded to a challenge laid down at halftime by the coaching staff.
"We challenged the kids to come out after halftime with enthusiasm," Rady said. "We had a slow start at the beginning of the game and we challenged them to not have that slow start but to come out and we were pleased with the response.
"That third quarter, offensively and defensively, we put it together."
Shakamak made the most of the opening few minutes, denying Cloverdale space on offense while using good movement off the ball to get some easy points, holding a 7-5 lead after the first five minutes of the game.
The Clovers settled down after two straight baskets by Marquise Moore and quickly found their offensive groove, scoring the last 15 points of the quarter to hold a 20-7 advantage after the first quarter.
Rady felt the run calmed the Clovers down after a sluggish start.
"It was huge because Shakamak is fundamentally sound and you have to keep pressure on them the whole time," Rady said. "(Shakamak head coach) Steve Brett has been around so long and is so shrewd, we knew he'd have things ready and they did.
"They had some things that flustered us and caused us some problems early in the game. We were able to persevere and get our things going, but it was huge to get that run."
Shakamak's Tanner Yeryar prevented the hosts from fully exploiting their first-quarter run, scoring 10 points in the second quarter to keep the Lakers in the game but trailing 36-20 at halftime.
Once the third quarter began, however, the hosts played some of the most intense defense of the entire season.
Cloverdale's defense cranked the pressure up on Shakamak, resulting in 11 Laker turnovers and 12 Clover points off the turnovers.
With the visitors rattled, Cloverdale went on a 27-0 run that engulfed all but the final 30 seconds of the quarter that featured at least four points a piece from Jalen Moore, Marquise Moore, Cooper Neese, KJ Coleman and Branston Scott, helping each to double-digit scoring nights.
A lay-up by Parker Green with 12 seconds left prevented Shakamak from going scoreless in the quarter, only for Marquise Moore to hit a fade-away three to close the quarter with hosts leading by 44 points.
Cloverdale was able to rest several starters during the final quarter as the Lakers regained their senses and outscored the Clovers 17-15 to close what turned into a comfortable outing for the hosts.
With only three bench players available, Rady said each of the players that came in got significant minutes and made solid contributions.
"The three guys that came off the bench got some good minutes tonight and they're gaining confidence," Rady pointed out. "Tyler (Lotz) is improving, Jalen came off the bench and got in double-figures while Brayden White came off the bench and hit a three."
Cloverdale travels to South Putnam Friday looking to secure the WCC title with a win.
Rady said the team needed to be up for the game to finish off a sweep of the conference schools.
"It's a big game for us because if we win this game, we will be conference champs," Rady said. "We have to be mentally up for it.
"We know (South Putnam head coach) Greg Dean does a good job of coaching. They'll have some things they will try to do to offset us and what we want to do.
"Like any game, there is a small degree of chess match," Rady added. "They'll be doing something and we'll need to counteract that.
"We'll be playing for a conference championship so we need to be ready to play because South Putnam is coming. They're better than they were at the county tourney and they're playing teams better."
At Cloverdale
Shakamak 7 13 2 17 -- 39
Cloverdale 20 16 30 15 -- 81
Statistics
Scoring
Shakamak -- 16-41 FG, 5-15 3-FG, 2-5 FT -- Yeryar 12, Huddleston 11, Green 10, Collins 3, Kinnett 3, Walters 0, Gilbert 0, Landry 0, West 0, Bessling 0
Cloverdale -- 31-61 FG, 6-17 3-FG, 13-17 FT -- Coleman 20, Scott 17, M. Moore 15, Neese 13, J. Moore 10, White 3, Duff 2, Lotz 1
Rebounding (Offensive)
Shakamak 16 (4); Cloverdale 29 (12)
Assists
Shakamak 11; Cloverdale 20
Steals
Shakamak 8; Cloverdale 17
Blocks
Shakamak 1; Cloverdale 3
Turnovers
Shakamak 25; Cloverdale 11
Fouls
Shakamak 17; Cloverdale 8
Next Game: Cloverdale (13-5, 3-0 WCC) travels to South Putnam (1-13, 0-2 WCC) as part of a varsity doubleheader Friday.