Ryan Damiata (23) and Max De Leon (3) have a long history together, extending well past the last three seasons they’ve spent as teammates on the Clear Lake High School varsity boys basketball team coached by Max’s dad, Scott De Leon. Damiata and De Leon have been playing basketball together since fifth-grade All-Stars in the Westshore Youth Basketball League. After their time together in the youth ranks, they played junior varsity ball their freshman year at Clear Lake before moving up to the varsity as sophomores for the 2014-15 season. Damiata and De Leon played their final home game together on Tuesday night and both made significant contributions during a 72-61 Clear Lake victory. They’ll play at least one more game together as teammates tonight when Clear Lake plays Cloverdale at 5 p.m. in the opening round of the North Central League I postseason tournament at Mendocino College in Ukiah. If the Cardinals win, they’ll play in the championship game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against either Kelseyville or St. Helena. Clear Lake also has an outside chance of qualifying for the North Coast Section Division V playoffs next week.
