MIDDLETOWN — Kayla Welton hit a long jump shot from just inside the 3-point line to tie the score at the end of regulation, but the Middletown Mustangs ended up dropping a 57-51 overtime thriller to the Salesian Chieftains on Tuesday night in a non-league varsity girls” basketball game in Middletown.
Salesian outscored Middletown 7-1 in the overtime period.
Julia Leathers scored a team-high 21 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter for Middletown, which also lost starter Kelsey Welton to fouls in the final period.
“I can”t tell you how proud I am of my girls,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said of the Mustangs” effort against a Saleisan team that improved to 3-1, including an 81-47 win at Lower Lake last month.
“But once you lose your floor leader (Leathers), it”s tough,” Pyzer said.
Middletown (0-5) trailed 27-17 entering the second half, but Leathers sparked the team in the third quarter when she scored 11 of her points, including three of her four 3-pointers on the night.
“She kind of took control out there and we followed right behind her,” Pyzer said.
Middletown cut the deficit to 39-37 after three quarters.
Salesian had a chance to ice the game late in the game but missed two free throws with 30 seconds remaining. Trailing 50-48, Middletown set up for a final shot and Kayla Welton nailed it just before the final buzzer sounded ending regulation play. She finished with 10 points and sister Kelsey added six.
“It”s probably the best game we”ve played in a long time, even counting back to last year,” Pyzer said.
Middletown hits the road on Thursday to begin play in the Fortuna Tournament. The tournament runs through Saturday.
