SANTA ROSA >> Taylor Helms scored eight of her 15 points, including both of her 3-pointers, during a 17-2 fourth quarter as the Clear Lake Cardinals beat Roseland Prep 55-34 in non-league varsity girls’ basketball action at Santa Rosa.
Clear Lake (3-1) led just 38-32 entering the final period.
“We settled down and played defense like we did in the first quarter,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said of the Cardinals, who owned an 18-2 advantage after the opening period.
Roseland Prep returned the favor in the second quarter by outscoring Clear Lake 13-3, cutting the Cardinals’ halftime lead to 21-15.
Valerie Hutton added 13 points, Corin Alakszay had nine and Jasmine Rice finished with eight in the win. Regina Faalela came off the bench to score all four of her points in the fourth quarter.
“I thought they played pretty well overall,” Reynolds said.
Clear Lake takes a step up in competition beginning today with a first-round game against Maria Carrillo of Santa Rosa in the opening round of the Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament at Healdsburg High School. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. in Smith Robinson game.
The Cardinals play again on Friday and Saturday.
