High school basketball: Matt Tanko, Nate Riley lead Cloverleaf boys over Clearview

WESTFIELD TWP. — Matt Tanko and Nate Riley sent the Cloverleaf boys basketball team into the second round of the postseason for the first time in 13 years. Tanko buried the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining and Riley made two free throws with 10 seconds left Tuesday, giving the No. 7 seed Colts a thrilling 58-54 victory over No. 10 Clearview in a North Ridgeville Division II Sectional opener. The Clippers (12-10) built a 52-49 lead on a pair of C.J. Fleming free throws with 1:54 on the clock, but Cloverleaf (15-8) ended the game on a 9-2 run after leading scorer Brycen Holliday had fouled out. Senior small forward Tanko provided the two biggest plays of the evening, converting a three-point play to tie the score at 52 — the blocking foul could have been called a charge — and then taking a cross-court pass from Cruz Severson and nailing the three that put the Colts in front for good at 55-54. "I wanted the ball the whole time before Cruz got it to me because I wanted to take that shot," said Tanko, who had 13 points and four rebounds. "I love (Holliday) to death and seeing him go out with (2:57) left was really tough. We won this game for him. "I'm so thankful for the support we got from our fans, and I will never forget this game or senior night." The 6-foot-6 Riley finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and a game-high eight assists. A 61 percent foul shooter on the season, the junior made all four of his free throws in the fourth quarter, all coming in the final 3:13. Senior shooting guard Holliday scored 18 points and was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, moving past current Black River football coach Kyle Clark and Wadsworth's Doug Bell into 14th place in Medina County history with 1,196 career points. "When Brycen fouled out, I told him, 'We got you,'" Riley said. "This team was not letting him finish out his amazing four-year career on the bench. We all grew up together and we used everything we've been taught by the coaches today to win this game." It was the Colts' first postseason win since beating Westlake 66-63 in overtime on Feb. 28, 2007 at the Midview D-I Sectional. There were 15 lead changes and 11 ties, and neither team led by more than five points in the remarkably even matchup. "This is the best moment, without question, that we've had since coming to Cloverleaf," fourth-year Colts coach Jack Banks said. "To win a playoff game at home without your 1,000-point scorer on the court, you need everyone else to step up. 'Big Shot' Tanko came through and (Riley) made some clutch free throws. "We set some goals for this program four years ago and these kids believed in them and have really changed the culture." Shooting guard Fleming scored 10 of his team-high 18 points in the second quarter for Clearview, which won nine of its last 10 regular-season games after starting the campaign 3-8. Lorain County League Player of the Year Joseph Norris had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals and Jordan Reed had nine points, six boards and three dimes. The Clippers attempted 25 more field goals than Cloverleaf, but shot just 21-for-64. "They hit a big three — Tanko was the guy we didn't want to lose defensively with Holliday out — and found a way to win," Clearview coach John Szalay said. "They're a good team and we're a good team, too. Give Cloverleaf credit for playing very well tonight. I wish them luck the rest of the tournament." Cloverleaf center Sylar Jones had 10 points and led all players with nine rebounds, while point guard Severson collected three points, four boards and six assists. With Cloverleaf clinging to a 56-54 lead, Severson and sophomore Ashton Newton double-teamed Fleming up top with 15 seconds left. Fleming dribbled the ball off Severson's leg, giving the Colts the chance to lock up the win with Riley at the line. Cloverleaf advanced to a Friday sectional final at No. 2 seed Holy Name. The Green Wave has won 11 in a row over public school foes and is 17-5 overall. "Don't count us out," Riley said. "We're excited to go to Holy Name and give them a run for their money." Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Cloverleaf 58, Clearview 54 North Ridgeville Division II Sectional SemifinalCLEARVIEW 9 15 19 11 — 54CLOVERLEAF 8 18 17 15 — 58Clearview — Joseph Norris 5-2-14, Sam Clark 3-0-6, Jordan Reed 4-0-9, C.J. Fleming 6-4-18, Chase Christensen 1-0-2, Zion Capers 2-0-5. TOTALS: 21-6-54.Cloverleaf — Matt Tanko 4-3-13, Nate Riley 3-5-11, Sylar Jones 5-0-10, Brycen Holliday 7-1-18, Cruz Severson 1-1-3, Ashton Newton 1-1-3, Jake Trampush 0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-11-58.3-point goals — Norris 2, Fleming 2, Reed, Capers, Holliday 3, Tanko 2. Rebounds — Clearview 27 (Norris 7), Cloverleaf 33 (Jones 9). Assists — Clearview 12 (Norris, Reed 3), Cloverleaf 18 (Riley 8). Records — Clearview (12-10), Cloverleaf (15-8).