FORT BRAGG >> Taylor Helms and Aliza Atkins combined for 44 of Clear Lake’s 47 points as the Cardinals struggled to beat Round Valley of Covelo 47-42 in a consolation semifinal game on Tuesday at the Vern Piver Holiday Classic in Fort Bragg.
Despite the win, which raised the Cardinals’ season record to 5-6, head coach Kory Reynolds said his team’s play was lacking on all counts.
“We came out and had a sluggish start and couldn’t get anything going,” Reynolds said. “We need to play better than this.”
Helms led all scorers with 27 points, including five 3-pointers, while Atkins added 17 points, nine on 3-pointers.
Clear Lake led 15-9 after one quarter and 29-21 at the half.
The Cardinals play Etna for the consolation championship today at noon as the tournament wraps up.
In an opening-round game Monday, Clear Lake fell 58-40 to St. Bernard of Eureka despite 18 points from Helms.
“We actually played better against them (Crusaders) than we did today,” Reynolds said. “And St. Bernard is a much better team.”
Atkins had nine points in the loss.
In the tournament’s boys’ bracket on Tuesday:
Clear Lake 61
Mendocino 50
Bouncing back from an ugly loss to Albany in first-round action Monday, the Clear Lake Cardinals squared their tournament record at 1-1 against the Cardinals from Mendocino High School.
Clear Lake (4-7) came out strong and led 20-3 after one quarter.
