LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Cardinals suffered their second straight North Central League I South setback and fourth consecutive loss overall Friday night when they dropped a 59-33 decision to the St. Vincent Mustangs at Lakeport.
Clear Lake (0-2 South, 11-8 overall) had the misfortune of opening league play against Cloverdale and St. Vincent, the preseason favorites to win the NCL I South race. Worse yet for the Cardinals, they lost to both teams on their home floor, which means they”ll have to beat both on the road in the second half of league play to have any shot at all of winning some share of the league title.
Clear Lake”s high-octane offense was held under 50 points for the second game in a row, a first this season. One reason was the absence of junior guard Ryan Richardson, who missed the game with the flu. Richardson is averaging a team- and Lake County-best 23 points a game.
Ahead 15-10 after one quarter, St. Vincent began to distance itself from Clear Lake in the second quarter. It was 31-16 at halftime and 45-25 after three quarters.
John Glazier”s eight points paced the Cardinals and Aaron Marshall, who picked up two technical fouls in the second half and was ejected, added seven.
The Cardinals went the entire game without hitting a 3-pointer.
Clear Lake coach Glenn Wienke was unavailable for comment.
St. Vincent improved to 2-1 in the South standings and 15-5 overall. The Mustangs” lone league loss so far this season was a 61-58 setback to Cloverdale on Jan. 16 in Petaluma.
The Cardinals remain home on Tuesday to play Upper Lake before hitting the road next Friday for a game in St. Helena, which closes out the first half of their NCL I South schedule.
