MENDOCINO — Ryan Richardson picked up where he left off last season as the Clear Lake Cardinals beat the Mendocino Cardinals 61-48 in a non-league varsity boys” basketball game Tuesday night on the Mendocino County coast.
Richardson, the county”s scoring leader last season at 23.2 points a game, tossed in 20 to lead Clear Lake (1-0) in its season debut. John Glazier added eight points and Brian Edwards added seven.
“We still need to get a little tougher on defense, but all in all I was really pleased with their hustle,” Clear Lake coach Glenn Wienke said of the Cardinals” first effort of the 2009-10 season. “It was a good tune-up for the Stokes Tournament.”
Clear Lake outscored Mendocino 19-9 in the second quarter to open up a 34-24 halftime lead. It was 50-36 after three periods.
The Cardinals from Lake County are carrying 15 players on their roster this season including two sets of brothers ? Jason, Brian and Steven Edwards ? and John and Seth Glazier.
Seth Glazier, who is nursing a groin pull injury suffered during football season, did not play on Tuesday.
“We really missed his play inside,” Wienke said.
Kyle Donald and Nate Secrest had six points apiece for Clear Lake.
Clear Lake returns to action Thursday at 10:30 a.m. against Mesa Verde in the opening round of the Stokes Tournament at Kelseyville.
