Clover Park Girls Hoops: Warriors Drop League Opener against Hornets

White River followed the girls basketball team to a different league but the outcome remained the same.

The Hornets handled the Warriors 49-32 during both squad's South Puget Sound League 2A opener in Lakewood on Tuesday night. It was the first matchup in the newly formed SPSL 2A between the former 3A rivals and, despite White River's convincing win, it was the closest the two teams have played in a number of years. In the past two years, Clover Park has struggled to stay within 30 points.

"It's the best we've ever played them," Warriors head coach Anthony Crawford said. "I challenged the girls to make sure they outscore them in the fourth quarter. When we play them (next time) we'll be more seasoned and we'll give them a better fight."

Clover Park did win Crawford's fourth-quarter challenge, outscoring White River 13-10 in the final period, but had already dug itself a 20-point hole through the first three quarters, leaving the outcome in little doubt.

Point guard Monique Greene led Clover Park (0-2 overall, 0-1 league) in scoring, showing off her range from 3-point range. The senior  went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and finished with a team-high 17 points. Two of her long-distance shots came in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.

The Warriors played without co-captain Caitlyn Johnson, a reliable ball-handler. It showed, as Clover Park committed 26 turnovers against a hard-pressing Hornets defense. White River (4-0 overall, 1-0 league) went on an 11-2 run to start the game and senior Brooke Paulson drained one of her three 3s before the halftime buzzer for a 30-12 lead.

Three White River players scored in double figures including Paulson, who had a game-high 20 points. Class 3A SPSL champions the past three years, White River — ranked second in the state according to The Tacoma News Tribune — may likely lead the pack of SPSL 2A opponents.

Clover Park was the first league opponent to be stung by the Hornets but not without fighting to the end.

Brown said he was impressed with his team's man defense. Clover Park senior post Naomi Brown made a couple good moves in the paint but was unable to convert. However, she blocked three shots and held 6-foot White River center Rani Wiegand to 10 points.

Clover Park plays Foss on Wednesday in Tacoma followed by their second league game against Eatonville on the road before Christmas break. Both games start at 7 p.m.

Box Score (girls)

White River   16   14   9   10 — 49

Clover Park    6     6    7   13 — 32

White River: Brooke Paulson 20, Rani Wiegand 11, Sabra Sproul 10, Kelly O'Brien 4, Sutton Mills 4.

Clover Park: Monique Greene 17, Danielle Pritchard 7, Synthia Martin 4, Tataneshia Robinson 2, Brittany Newhardt 2.

Boys hoops: Clover Park boys beat White River 66-37

The Clover Park boys basketball team is off to a great start this season after entering the Class 2A South Puget Sound League. The Warriors' defense held the Hornets to less than 20 points in the first half, as they rolled to a 66-37 league victory on Tuesday in Buckley.

Clover Park (5-0 overall, 1-0 league) extended its winning streak with a hot-hand from senior Tana Pritchard, who scored 27 points.

Box Score (boys)

Clover Park   13   11   27   15 — 66

White River   9     8    9    11 — 37

Summary:

CP- Crisp 14, Walker, M. Brown 1, Rory 5, Pritchard 27, Russell 5, Crawford 5, Timmons 3, I. Brown 6, Cologne.
WR- Dove 7, Swigard 4, Keil 4, Scott 5, Sayler, Layton, Tyler 10, McCarragher, Wolsskill 7.