Clearfield High retires number for Jackie Beene McBride, then beats Roy
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- Jackie Beene McBride, left, and her husband Brent pose with a banner commemorating the retirement of her Clearfield High girls basketball number on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Calista Christensen (44) shoots a jump shot over Roy’s Anna Fisher, center, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Jackie Beene McBride, left, poses with current Clearfield High player Emiko Kano on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield. Clearfield High retired McBride’s No. 32 during Friday’s game.
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- Roy High’s Ariana Strain (23) battles for the ball with Clearfield’s Xiyah Yarbrough, left, and Emiko Kano (32) on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield’s Jayla Kearns (5) rises to shoot against Roy’s Anna Fisher on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Roy High’s Talyeah Valdez (12) dribbles against Clearfield’s Ciara De La O on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Xiyah Yarbrough, right, drives the ball against Roy’s Talyeah Valdez on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Roy High’s Rihanna May, right, looks to make a play against Clearfield’s Destini Gomez (3) on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Bailey Hoover, left, shoots against Roy High on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Roy High girls basketball head coach Hailee Parry coaches her team during a game at Clearfield on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Izzy Wyaskett (11) shoots a long shot against Roy’s Jazzi Prieto (3) on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Clearfield High’s Xiyah Yarbrough (2) maneuvers around Roy’s Ellie Speredon on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
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- Roy High’s Jerzee Hart (21) and Clearfield’s Bailey Hoover (25) contest the jump ball to start a game Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Clearfield.
CLEARFIELD — Former Clearfield High girls basketball standout Jackie Beene McBride had her number retired Friday.
Not coincidently, current Clearfield player Emiko Kano also had her jersey removed from the rotation that afternoon.
Both players have sported No. 32, McBride as Beene almost half a century ago, and Kano from her freshman year at Clearfield and actually well before that.
“In junior high, I always had the No. 32 because I was always the tallest and it ended up being my favorite number,” Kano said. “It’s like it was meant to be. I’ve related to 32 and fallen in love with that number; I’ve had it for so long.”
Tradition dictates that a retired number be taken out of circulation but, even with the feting of the famous former Falcon during a halftime ceremony during Clearfield’s game against Roy on Friday evening, Kano will be allowed to wear her number until she graduates.
“I wanted to finish my senior year with it … also out of respect. I think after my senior year is done, that’s the last time someone will wear the number,” Kano said.
McBride was a big bird when the Falcon flock won their initial state championship in 1977 and went on to star at BYU, becoming the first female All-American from the state of Utah (and scoring 2,191 points, third all-time at BYU).
Kano, a 5-foot-10 junior center, has helped the Falcons to an undefeated mark in Region 5 this season.
Though not related, but young enough to be McBride’s granddaughter, Kano has developed a special kinship fitting in the Falcon nest through the basketball bond.
“My aunt was teammates with Jackie Beene, so it’s cool I had her same number; it means a lot,” Kano said. “I knew she won the first state title and became more aware last year (when Clearfield honored the 1977 team.) It’s great to play for her, knowing she’s a legend.”
Whether a starter or coming off the bench, Kano anchors the defense, drawing the opposition’s bigs in the middle as the Clearfield guards, all 5-foot-7 or under, fly around like pesky gnats, ball-hawking steals that lead to layups on the other end.
Clearfield will hang the banner commemorating McBride’s uniform No. 32 on the east wall of the gym and a plaque will be placed in the trophy case.
“It’s definitely humbling and I feel totally honored but, when you have something like this, it doesn’t come by itself; it’s because of the teammates you work with, the coaches you had,” McBride said. “When I look at that jersey, I think of my teammates. You can’t do it by yourself. I’m a little embarrassed because it’s a little awkward, but super special.”
Bookending the halftime festivities Friday was the Region 5 rivalry matchup between the Falcons and the Royals, and Clearfield remained perfect in league play with a 56-32 rout.
After a tight first quarter, where Clearfield led 17-13, the Falcons opened the second stanza on a 9-0 run, taking command at 26-13.
Kano had a basket and several boards by the time the streak ended at the 4:29 mark.
“All I wanted to do was prove myself. … Defensively I got three rebounds in a row and a couple of tips and steals,” Kano said. “I’m excited for my teammates and I want to hype them up, making sure it’s not all about you.”
The Falcons (9-4, 4-0 Region 5) stayed on the court for the halftime activities and, with no locker room break, could have been excused if they came out flat in the third quarter.
But after Roy (3-8, 2-2) opened the period on a bucket by senior center Jerzee Hart, the Falcons embarked on a 17-2 blitz, keyed by senior guard Xiyah Yarbrough and her trio of 3-pointers.
“I just took a breath and started feeling it. Like, let’s play, ready. I had a chip on my shoulder and I wanted to show it today,” Yarbrough said. “We all locked in and played together as a team. We had each other’s backs and trusted each other that we could make the shots.”
Yarbrough led the Falcons with 13 points, junior guard Izzy Wyaskett had nine, and senior power forward Bailey Hoover scored seven. Junior guard Brighton Bernards added six points and six rebounds.
For the Royals, Hart got double digits with 10 points and senior guard Ari Strain and sophomore guard Rihanna May checked in with six each. Strain led Roy with five rebounds.
