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Cloverdale postseason run comes to a close
GREENFIELD-- The Cloverdale high school boys' basketball team saw its fantastic season come to a close Saturday. A never-quit Clover attitude matched against an athletic Crispus Attucks team and made for an exciting regional game, but unfortunately for Cloverdale (22-6), Attucks took the win 84-77.
Clover coach Pat Rady earlier in the week said his team needed to be ready to play a fast-paced game and from the first quarter the Clovers were up for the challenge.
Cloverdale was able to get Crispus Attucks (19-2) into early foul trouble and take an early 7-5 lead.
Sophomore Cooper Neese got things started with a three early, as did senior K.J. Coleman. Both of them also added a bucket. Senior Marquise Moore got a score and freshman Jalen Moore made two foul shots.
The Clovers had a hard time stopping Attuck's Darrell Hutchinson and he willed the Tigers to the 20-16 first-quarter lead.
"We had a little trouble getting back," Rady said. "We had good pressure on the front line and caused them problems. Then they had a sideline break and got down the court pretty quick and we didn't get back. So we adjusted to that and didn't give up as many in the second half."
Attucks put more pressure on the Clovers in the second period as it increased its lead. Coleman and Neese continued to produce in the second but some missed free throws allowed the Tigers a 42-32 halftime edge.
The Clovers were able to stay close in the second half, shrinking the Attucks lead to 47-42 with five minutes to go in the third. Neese continued to be a reliable go-to guy, getting seven from the field and two from the line.
But the momentum swung again with Attuck's fast pace pushing the lead to eight as the third quarter ended.
In fourth the quick action seemed to be going in favor of Attucks until the Clover run, fueled by the "Chaos Defense," sliced through the lead. Neese nailed a three ball and knocked in another one after a Coleman block at the other end of the floor.
Then it was a repeat act as Coleman swatted away another attempt and the ball found Cooper Neese spotting up for his third three of the fourth quarter, to tie the score at 70 with 2:15 to play.
"Cooper is just special," Rady said. "As hard as a worker that he is, he is only going to get better. He is great for the future of Clover basketball"
Attucks however went on a 9-0 run to answer after a delay in the game due to blood on jerseys. Marquise Moore also had to leave for a while due to a dislocated finger on his non-shooting hand, however he came back in to help the Clovers in their attempt to make a final run at the lead.
"I think the bottom line is we didn't quit," Rady said. "When we tied it 70-70, I thought we were going to get them. But the ball just didn't bounce our way after that.
Helping to stop the Tiger run, sophomore Duke Duff chose a great time to score his first three-pointer of the night and Marquise Moore made a three, making the score 81-76 Attucks.
However, that is as close as Cloverdale was able to make it as there was just too little time to complete the run without fouling to stop the clock.
"We made them have to adjust," Rady said. "Even though they won, I still think it could've gone either way. We came here and we felt we could beat them. We felt that all week. I think we showed today that we belong here.
"So we close this chapter and our seniors will move on and start writing another chapter in another part of their life. Our younger kids have got another chance to write another chapter of Clover basketball next year."
Moore, Coleman, Brantson Scott and Tyler Lotz will be graduating this year making room for new faces in the lineup. However it will be tough to match the production of this senior class.
"They've given so much," Rady said. "We had a meeting before the sectional when I told them how much they mean to me and what a thrill it was to coach them, each one. I wish them the very best in every walk of life and I want them to remember that their part of Cloverdale basketball will always be there. They will always be part of our family."
Rady said despite the loss, it was very rewarding to watch his team storm back multiple times during the game.
"That's one of the most satisfying things a coach can see," he said. "We get caught up in the victory and I'll never say we don't play to win. You want to be the best and win, no matter what you do in life.
"Sometimes you see men that wilt under pressure and quit. But we were down eight and they came back and tied it after that. A coach cannot fault his team when they play like that. He's got to be thankful that he's been blessed to be around young men who say 'We will never quit.'"
IHSAA Regional No. 11
At Greenfield
Cloverdale 16 16 20 25--77
Crispus Attucks 20 2218 24 -- 84
Individual Scoring
Cloverdale 25-55 15-31 77 (Neese 11-21 5-7 34, M. Moore 5-12 4-9 16, Coleman 6-13 1-3 15, J. Moore 0-1 5-10 5, Scott 2-4 4, Duff 1-4 3) Crispus Attucks 31-56 20-33 84 (Hutchinson 10-15 8-11)
Team Stats
3-pt shots: 12-28 (Neese 7-14, M. Moore 2-4, Coleman 2-5, 1-3) Attucks 2-14 Rebounds: Cloverdale 31 (Neese 9, M. Moore 9, Coleman 5, Duff 4, Scott 2, J. Moore 1, Scott 1) Attucks 37 (Hutchinson 14, McMichel 11) Assists: Cloverdale 9 (J. Moore 2, M. Moore 2, Duff 2, Neese 1, Coleman 1, Scott 1) Attucks 6 Steals: Cloverdale 7 (J. Moore 2, Neese 2, M. Moore 2, Coleman 1) Blocks: Cloverdale 5 (Coleman 5) Fouls: Cloverdale 24 Attucks 24