Clover girls dominate in 65-34 victory at RP

MECCA — Cloverdale got strong performances from guards Abby Walker and Hailey Thomas on Friday night in improving to 2-0 on the season with a 65-34 win at Riverton Parke.

Walker led the Clovers in scoring for the second straight game, tallying 18 points behind the strength of four 3-pointers.

Thomas scored 17 points and added nine steals, six rebounds and three assists.

Tori Combs contributed nine points, 10 rebounds, seven steals and five assists before fouling out while Lakkain Price had eight points and nine rebounds.

The Clovers poured in 22 first-quarter points to take a 16-point lead at the first stop. Riverton Parke cut the Cloverdale lead to 31-19 at halftime, but the Clovers dominated the second half by a 34-15 margin to avenge a defeat to the Panthers last season.

“It was a good win,” Cloverdale coach Matthew Langdon said. “We came out very strongly with 22 points in the first quarter. We knew coming in they had lost [graduated standout Tayler] Vauters, and they would be a different team.

“To go into their place and get a big win is great for our program.”

Langdon recalls that his team did not start as well in last year’s defeat.

“We came out slowly last year, but in this game we moved the ball well and hit some shots,” he said. “Riverton Parke fought back. We went cold from the field, and started to settle too much.

“We need to take it to the hole and get to the line a little more.”

Langdon was glad to see Thomas have a “breakout” game.

“She played very well,” he said. “Our helpside defense was much improved. That’s something we’ve been working on a lot this year.”

Langdon now looks forward to two days of practice in preparation for his team’s home opener against North Central.

“They have a couple of big freshmen who could change that team,” he said. “We’re going to have to come in ready to play.”

CLOVERDALE (65) — McCracken 0-0 0-0 0, Shrum 1-11 2-6 5, Wade 1-4 1-2 3, Walker 5-14 4-4 18, Couch 0-0 0-0 0, Combs 4-6 1-2 9, Thomas 5-17 4-6 17, Shoemaker 0-2 0-0 0, Price 3-5 2-5 8, Shedron 2-6 0-0 5. Totals 21-64 FG, 14-25 FT, 65 TP

RIVERTON PARKE (34) —Kirchoff 0 0-0 0, Clapp 1 0-0 3, App 0 0-0 0, Pharr 0 6-8 6, Fellows 1 2-4 4, Eslinger 5 7-9 17, Scherman 0 2-4 2, Oldham 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 17-25 34

Cloverdale 22 9 13 21 — 65

Riverton Parke 6 13 7 8 — 34

3-point goals — Shrum, Walker 4, Thomas 3, Clapp.

Next game — Cloverdale (2-0) hosts North Central on Tuesday. Riverton Parke fell to 0-1 on the season.