Girls basketball: Balanced Clearfield controls Bonneville in second half for 50-37 win
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- Clearfield’s Amber Dankwa (15) looks to pass against Bonneville’s Whitni Johnson (13) on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Bonneville’s Sidnee Geerdes (0) tries to shoot against. Clearfield’s Brighton Bernards (13) on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Amoree Scholer (24) and Bonneville’s Sidnee Geerdes (0) compete for the jump ball to start a game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Bonneville’s Baya Jimenez handles the ball against Clearfield on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Izzy Wyaskett moves up the court against Bonneville on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Bonneville’s Tailey Buckway drives the ball against Clearfield on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Ciara De La O pursues the ball against Bonneville on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Bonneville’s Tyler Moss handles the ball against Clearfield on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Bonneville’s Baylee Andreasen (5) dribbles against Clearfield’s Ciara De La O (1) on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
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- Players on Clearfield High’s bench cheer a play against Bonneville on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Clearfield.
CLEARFIELD — On any given night, a different player has taken center stage for the highly successful Clearfield High girls basketball team.
Except for an unexplained hiccup against Cedar Valley, the Falcons have won every game this season by double-digits — at least 12 points — including a 50-37, Region 5 victory over Bonneville on Friday.
“As a team, we all have great defense and that gives us more hype, more energy,” Clearfield junior guard Xiyah Yarbrough said about the scoreboard disparity this year. “For sure great defense. That’s my game. Pretty much getting my offense from my defense.”
In addition to the alternating role players for the Falcons, Yarbrough and sophomore Izzy Wyaskett have usually been in the mix every game, both averaging more than 10 points per outing.
“Me and Izzy grew up playing basketball since we were young; with and against each other. We share the ball and move the ball around,” Yarbrough said. “I’m open, but the extra pass will be open; we trust each other.”
Clearfield (9-1, 2-0 Region 5) raced to a 10-3 lead after one quarter and led 15-3 early in the second stanza before Bonneville went on an 11-0 run to get within one point midway in the period.
Tyler Moss had a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws during the run for the Lakers (4-6, 0-2). It was close at the half, with Clearfield clinging to a 22-20 edge.
“Our energy came down. We felt stuck and didn’t know what to do. When we got back to the locker room, we put our minds together and said let’s lock in; we’re here for each other,” Yarbrough said.
“Coach said ‘you need to go out there and do what you do; what you do best,'” Yarbrough said. “Put our talent on the court. When we’re down, our team relies on each other. Somebody had to step up and I felt I should take charge tonight.”
Fourteen seconds into the third quarter, Yarbrough did just that. She made a driving layup, added the free throw and the rout was under way for the Falcons.
Two charity tosses by Yarbrough made it 30-24 at the 4:28 mark and she buried a 3-pointer a minute later to make it 33-25. It was 40-25 after three quarters.
She scored 10 points in the period and totaled 17 for the game. Yarbrough also recorded four assists, two steals and two rebounds.
The Lakers outpaced Clearfield 12-10 in the fourth quarter but never got closer than the final 13-point margin.
Moss led Bonneville with nine points and Baya Jimenez came off the bench and also netted nine.
For Clearfield, Wyaskett also had double figures with 11 points. The Falcons played 13 girls and nine of them got into the scoring column. Their starting lineup consists of one senior, one junior, two sophomores and a freshman.
“Just keep positivity (with) freshmen playing at a varsity level. Encouraging them, being good examples for them,” Yarbrough said. “Izzy and I give some balance, the way we put it on the court. The chemistry. Even though we’re young, we play as one.”
Beginning with Region 5 play this week, the Falcons have tried to refocus after compiling a great non-region slate.
“We’re coming out stronger, with more movement, more loud. We want it. We want to win. We worked hard in practice yesterday and put it on the court today,” Yarbrough said.