Short-handed Clovers fall to Golden Arrows

CLOVERDALE – The Cloverdale Clover girls' basketball team held its modified senior night on Saturday afternoon at Tucker Court.

The visiting Sullivan Golden Arrows came to town and physically wore down the Clovers for a 62-25 victory in Western Indiana Conference girls’ basketball. The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was a Saturday matinee contest instead.

The short-handed Clovers just physically could not stop the Arrows. Sullivan’s Jacie Wilson bullied her way to the basket time and again for 22 points and 12 rebounds while forcing the Clovers into 28 turnovers.

The loss dropped the Clovers to 2-19 and 0-9 in conference play. Sullivan improved to 18-5 and 9-1 in the WIC.

“We did a lot of things right today. I thought we got into our offense pretty well considering that we had a lot of girls playing in different positions being as short-handed as we are,” Cloverdale head coach James Wade said of missing the Haga (Amalia and Gracie) girls due to injury.

A free throw by Syrie Ford and jumper by Sara Nichols gave the Clovers a lead at 3-2 early in the first quarter, but the Arrows would go an 11-0 run until Keely McSwine had jumper to cut the lead to 13-5.

Sullivan would again go on a run, this one 10-0 burst to end the quarter on top 23-5.

Cloverdale made a valiant effort to stay with the Arrows in the second quarter. Behind seven points from Emily Mann, the Clovers played Sullivan almost evenly in the period.

Cloverdale reduced its turnovers and got some good looks as the Arrows outscored them 12-11 in the period for a 35-16 halftime lead.

“(Sullivan) pressured us in the halfcourt at times that we didn’t handle it very well. We got better and made some better passes and decisions as the game went on,” Wade said.

The second half saw Sullivan’s Wilson repeatedly get to the basket as the Clovers saw the game get away from them, unable to keep pace.

Sullivan led 53-23 at the end of the third period and midway through the fourth quarter shortened the game by starting the running clock. Sullivan would eventually set the final margin at 62-25 with several bench players from the two squads picking up minutes.

Cloverdale’s senior night was typical of its season. Two of the three seniors, the Haga sisters, were unavailable to the Clovers. In a show of sportsmanship, they started and Sullivan allowed the Clovers to get the tip and control the ball for a backcourt violation in order to allow them time on the court.

“Millie and Gracie, unfortunately, I was only able to get them for a year. Both fantastic girls, the way they carry themselves both in basketball and at school. I wish we could have had them for four years,” Wade said of his injured seniors.

Wilson led the Arrows with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Ally McKinney had 10 for Sullivan. Mann led the Clovers with 12 points.

“Of course, Emily (Mann) is the glue that has held us together for four years. Even as a freshman she came in and contributed. She does everything for us both on the court and off the court. I ask a lot of her and she always does what is asked of her,” Wade said.

SULLIVAN (62) – Kelley 2-4 1-2 7, Sarver 4-7 0-0 9, Drake 4-13 0-0 9, McKinney 4-11 0-1 10, Wilson 10-13 2-5 22, Golish 1-4 2-2 5, Shorter 0-0 0-0 0, Slaughter 0-0 0-0 0, Figg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 FG, 5-10 FT, 62 TP.

CLOVERDALE (25) – Ford 1-2 1-4 3, Nichols 3-10 0-0 6, A. Haga 0-0 0-0 0, G. Haga 0-0 0-0 0, Mann 5-14 0-1 12, McSwine 2-2 0-0 4, Lee 0-3 0-0 0, Watkins 0-0 0-0 0, Halloran 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-31 FG, 1-5 FT, 25 TP.

3-point shooting –SHS 7-21 (Kelley 2-3, Sarver 1-2, Drake 1-7, McKinney 2-4, Wilson 0-1, Golish 1-4), CHS 2-9 (Nichols 0-1, Mann 2-7, Lee 0-1) Rebounds –SHS 29 (Sarver 4, Drake 2, McKinney 7, Wilson 12, Golish 2), CHS – 23 (Ford 2, Nichols 3, Mann 6, McSwine 2, Halloran 1, Lee 2, Watkins 2) FG Pct. – SHS 48.1, CHS 35.5. FT Pct. – SHS 50.0, CHS 20.0. Turnovers – SHS 14, CHS 28.