Cloverdale takes down West Vigo

Saturday, January 30, 2016
Cooper Neese lit up the scoreboard with 31 points Friday also adding 15 boards. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

WEST TERRE HAUTE -- The Cloverdale Clovers visited the West Vigo Vikings in the third -lace game of the Western Indiana Conference. The Clovers attacked from the start and placed third, winning 77-63.

"I am very proud of our kids," Cloverdale coach Patrick Rady said. "In a conference like this to be in third place after losing your first conference game, I do not think you ask for anything else. We did all we could and won out."

Cloverdale came out on an tear, scoring seven points in less than a minute and a half forcing a West Vigo timeout. Out of the timeout, Cloverdale opened up a 13-6 lead before the hosts started to go on a run, which gave West Vigo an 18-15 lead at the end of the quarter.

"This was a game that we would have lost at the beginning of the year," Rady said. "Maybe by 15 or 20. That is a testament to our kids that they have committed to getting better in practice and this is where it has started."

The Clovers started the game out with a press and it worked well, forcing nine first-half turnovers. Those nine turnovers saw the Clovers score seven points in transition. The Vikings had a weapon, though, in 6-9 junior center Austin Sappingfield. Sappingfield towered over everyone on Cloverdale's team as Cloverdale's tallest player is 6-5 senior Brennan Hall.

Freshmen Parker Watts and Jake Wilkes saw a big chunk of playing time in the game and both impressed with Watts hitting a big three-pointer in the first half and Wilkes scoring 16 total points.

"Wilkes is really coming into his own," Rady said. "Wilkes gives us energy. Pfaff can shoot the three pointer and I thought he took the right shots at the right time. Watts is getting better every game. For him to come in as a freshman he really makes our bench deeper."

Junior Cooper Neese had a stellar night with 31 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and seven steals.

"Neese is special," Rady said. "This was Cooper's most complete game of the season and he is an ultimate competitor."

Sappingfield, despite his size and ability to finish over everyone else, was not very effective that was due to Wilkes and Neese bodying him up and forcing him to absorb contact. Sappingfield ended the game with eight points.

Cloverdale had control of the entire second half, outscoring the Vikings 47-35. The Clovers never trailed in the second half but it was close throughout the third quarter as the Vikings pulled within three points multiple times.

"Everyone is coming along," Neese said. "The next few years we will develop into being a better team. Everyone is a big factor. Now if they double-team Jaylen or I we are one pass away from a 3-pointer or a layup."

Sophomore Jaylen Moore had a great game as point guard, scoring 13 points and dishing out eight assists. Junior Seth Pfaff also played very well, scoring 13 points and knocking down two critical three-pointers.

"Jaylen is so smart with the ball," Neese said. "He improved tremendously over the summer as a point guard."

Even though the Vikings battled back and almost took the momentum from the Clovers, they could not due to some smart decisions by the coaching staff which led them to the bigger lead and the win.

"This was a total team win," Rady said. "My assistants really did a great job. Coach (Greg) Thomas suggested a 1-3-1 zone when they cut the lead down and we got a steal and a score and then forced them to shoot quick. I have great assistants that are always thinking and making decisions."

The Clovers will use the two-week break before the Putnam County Classic to work on some different things on defense including their major issue, rebounding the ball.

"We need to work on rebounding," Rady said. "We need to work on dribble penetration because (Ryan) Coble is a handful and (Colin) York is a great shooter. Handling dribble penetration and rebounding will be two areas we need to focus on."

At West Vigo

Cloverdale 15 15 20 27 - 77

West Vigo 18 10 15 20 - 63

SCORING

Cloverdale (77): Neese 11-17 7-8 31, Wilkes 7-9 2-5 16, Moore 4-12 4-6 13, Pfaff 5-6 1-2 13, Watts 1-3 0-0 3, Winders 0-1 1-4 1. Totals: 28-48 (6-18) 15-27, 77.

West Vigo (63): Lautenschlager 10-16 3-6 23, Vickers 4-15 5-5 16, Kernstein 4-11 2-2 10, Sappingfield 3-15 2-2 8, Tanoos 2-5 0-0 4, Schaffer 1-5 0-0 0. Total: 24-70 (3-26) 12-15, 63.

REBOUNDING (Total-offensive)

Cloverdale (29-7): Neese 15-4, Wilkes 4-2, Watts 3-1, Hall 2-0, Moore 1-0, Pfaff 1-0, Winders 1-0.

West Vigo (47-26): Lautenschlager 13-10, Sappingfield 12-7, Kernstein 10-4, Tanoos 3-2, Schaffer 2-0, Vickers 1-0.

Assists: CHS 14 (Moore 8), WVHS 13 (Schaffer 6). Steals: CHS 11 (Neese 7), WVHS 2 (Sappingfield 2). Blocks: CHS 2 (Neese 2), WVHS 1 (Sappingfield).

Turnovers: CHS 10, WVHS 13.

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