‘An exciting moment right now’: Clearfield girls basketball ready for region play after handling Northridge
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- Northridge High’s Kayla Stevenson (14) battles the defensive pressure of of Clearfield’s Calista Christensen, left, and Ciara De La O (1) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Northridge High players Luna Garcia-Ortega (20) and Kayla Stevenson (14) battle with Clearfield’s Calista Christensen for a loose ball on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Northridge High’s Nini Johnson (25) dribbles up court as Clearfield’s Emiko Kano, center, gives chase on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Ciara De La O, left, shoots over Northridge’s Kayla Stevenson (14) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Northridge High’s Abbi Frost (5) drivesagainst the defense of Clearfield’s Ciara De La O (1) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High girls basketball players cheer from the bench during a home game against Northridge on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Northridge High’s Kayla Stevenson (14) shoots over the contest of Clearfield’s Destini Gomez (3) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Destini Gomez surveys the court as she dribbles in a game against Northridge on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Calista Christensen (44) advances the ball up court in a game against Northridge on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Northridge High’s Kayla Stevenson, left, handles the basketball against contact from Clearfield defender Isabelle Wyaskett (11) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Brighton Bernards slaps hands during lineup introductions before a home game against Northridge on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in Clearfield.
CLEARFIELD — First, check your watches: a 12:15 p.m. tip for a girls basketball game on a Tuesday in late December.
Next, scope out the stylish white uniforms trimmed in pink instead of the traditional Kelly green and gold.
Finally, recognize the results: a balanced floor game for the Clearfield Falcons, led by Ciara De La O and Izzy Wyaskett.
Clearfield placed nine players in the scoring column and doubled up Northridge, 53-25, in the Region 5 opener for both schools.
While Wyaskett led the Falcons in scoring most games last year, De La O has become a key cog in the Clearfield offense this season.
“Last year, I was struggling with confidence, but this year, my last year, I’ve got to step up and take accountability,” De La O said. “If someone else is not getting it done, another teammate has to.”
De La O is listed as a junior on the Clearfield roster, but plans to graduate early to get a jumpstart on her career as a physical therapist and also hopes to continue her basketball playing days.
Tuesday will help her basketball resume; De La O scored a game-high 17 points and gathered four rebounds.
Wyaskett still has a say in the Falcons’ success, netting 10 points and hauling off six boards.
“Other players stepping up has helped me not feel so much pressure,” Wyaskett said. “We work as a team with everyone doing their role. Our opponents can’t focus on one player; we have four or five players than can play hard.”
Speaking of teammates, Wyaskett has a scholarship to Northwest College in Wyoming, where she will join Syracuse standouts Rachel McBride and Maylee Anderson next season.
As for the pink-trimmed uniforms, Clearfield feels it brings unity amongst the players, beyond a fashion statement.
“It’s just spirit; having that spirit with everybody. Be out there more, so other people can see us,” De La O said. “People see other schools; we know we can handle other teams. Having that balance with our shooting and chemistry on the court.”
Those not close to the Clearfield (6-5, 1-0 Region 5) squad could be misled by the barely .500 record, which came by design through difficult scheduling.
“Our coach (JT Soter) scheduled tougher games like West and some other big teams. We wanted to see how we compete with the best. It helped us for region to know what to work on,” Waskett said.
One of those tougher teams didn’t appear to be Northridge (0-11, 0-1 Region 5) but Clearfield wasn’t taking anything for granted.
The Falcons led 12-2 after one quarter and slightly expanded that margin to 21-9 at the break.
“We knew we had to come out strong. It was a struggle in the beginning, but as a team we came together,” De La O said. “We talked about great shot selection and made sure to move the ball around. Being together, supporting each other and helping each other out.”
A 19-8 third quarter contributed to the Falcons doubling of the Knights. With Wyaskett on the bench in foul trouble, De La O scored seven straight points near the end of the third period and early in the fourth, making it 45-17.
Enter Clearfield senior guard Abbie Thayne, who scored all six of her points in a 3-minute span, including a pair of nifty turnaround jump shots.
Clearfield held Northridge to single-digit scoring in all four quarters.
“That’s one of the strengths of our team. We pressure them; we’re obviously not the tallest team so we’ve got to be quick and strong,” Wyaskett said. “Physicality helps getting the ball and getting steals. The aggressiveness and heart of our team makes it really special.”
Sophomores Kayla Stevenson and Lauren Terrando paced the Knights with six points each, giving them some hope for the future.
So, with a challenging nonregion session in the rearview mirror, Clearfield has a win over a rival to start the new year.
“The competition has been great for us. Honestly, it’s an exciting moment right now,” De La O said. “We started off the season strong and we’re going to continue. Our team is doing really well, especially with the tough preseason.”
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‘An exciting moment right now’: Clearfield girls basketball ready for region play after handling Northridge
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