LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Cardinals stayed close for a half before the Cloverdale Eagles blew the game wide open with a big third quarter, going on to win 58-19 on Tuesday night in varsity girls” basketball action at Lakeport.
It was the North Central League I South opener for both teams.
“We knew either we were going to come out and hit some shots in that third quarter or they were,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said after a 25-12 first half, one in which neither team shot the ball very well.
Cloverdale responded, hitting four 3-pointers in the third quarter, three of them by Sara Gambetta. Gambetta and teammate Morgan Carlson scored 15 points apiece to lead Cloverdale and Whitney Edens had nine.
“We played really well in the first half, the girls were hustling,” Reynolds said.
Clear Lake entered the game minus one starter and two reserves.
“We had two players out sick and another out for school disciplinary reasons,” Reynolds said.
Jessica Asbury”s 10 points led the Cardinals, now 5-8 overall.
While the points weren”t there for Clear Lake against the defending South champions, Reynolds said the effort certainly was.
“I thought they played hard and hustled,” Reynolds said.
Clear Lake hosts St. Vincent in South action on Friday.
