WILLITS >> Rebounding from back-to-back North Central League I losses, the Clear Lake Cardinals squared their league record at 3-3 with a 64-44 victory over the Willits Wolverines on Friday night in Willits where Tyler Dore, making only his second start of the season, pumped in a season-high 18 points.
Clear Lake held a 27-20 lead at halftime before breaking the game wide open during a 27-9 third quarter that featured 13 Dore points.
“He was dominating the boards on the offensive end getting us putbacks and drawing fouls,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said of Dore. “He just had a great game.”
Stevie Diaz (17 points), Max De Leon (12 points) and Ryan Damiata (10 points) joined Dore in double figures.
Damiata and De Leon combined for 14 rebounds.
“It’s nice to get into the win column after a couple of tough losses,” De Leon said.
The Cardinals close out the first half of their league schedule Tuesday at home against the Lower Lake Trojans. Five of Clear Lake’s eight remaining NCL I games take place Lakeport.
In junior varsity action Friday Clear Lake beat Willits 47-26.
In other boys’ basketball action Friday:
Roseland Prep 63, Upper Lake 53
At Upper Lake, still missing a pair of starters, the Upper Lake Cougars fell to Roseland Prep of Santa Rosa in NCL II play.
Isaac Nevarez, the team’s leading scorer at 20.4 points a game, remains out with a knee injury but may be able to begin practicing next week, according to head coach Justin Dutcher. Derek Pritchard also missed the game for disciplinary reasons, leaving the Cougars understrength.
“I’m pretty proud of my boys,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said. “We’re still shorthanded and we were playing a good team. I can’t complain about our effort.”
Tim Beffa’s 15 points led the Cougars (3-3, 10-7), Cody Rybolt added 13 and Chase Goetjen had 11.
Roseland had a 44-29 lead at the half.
Girls’ basketball
Cloverdale 51, Lower Lake 38
At Cloverdale, the Lower Lake Trojans’ league slide reached three straight as they fell to the Cloverdale Eagles.
Outside of a team-best 19 points from Samantha Caires, Lower Lake (2-4, 10-8) continued to struggle from the field, going just 1-for-14 from behind the 3-point arc.
“It’s the third game in a row our offense has struggled,” Lower Lake coach Bryce Brin said. “We really didn’t do anything until the fourth quarter.”
Cloverdale led 29-17 at the half and 40-22 through three quarters.
Aleia Milano had nine points for the Trojans.
Lower Lake won the JV game 60-46 behind 34 points from Vanessa Hughes.
Clear Lake 72, Willits 37
At Lakeport, Clear Lake returned to the .500 mark in league play with a home win over the Willits Wolverines.
The Cardinals (3-3, 10-7) were led by 24 points from senior guard Taylor Helms, who is now just 81 points shy of 1,000 for her career. Camille Donald made a rare start and added 12 points while Valerie Hutton and Corin Alakszay finished with nine and eight points, respectively.
“She (Helms) set the tone with 12 points in the first quarter and everybody else responded,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said. “We pressed them and came out pretty aggressive. She got some good steals and hit some open 3s.”
Helms sank two 3-pointers in the opening period as Clear Lake jumped out to a 25-15 lead. It was 38-23 in the Cardinals’ favor by halftime.
Clear Lake won the JV game 47-25 to remain perfect in the league standings at 6-0.
