LOWER LAKE — The Clear Lake High School junior varsity boys” basketball team is a win away from wrapping up its second straight Hoop Classic championship after taking care of the Kelseyville Knights 63-47 on Friday night at Lower Lake High School.
Both teams brought 2-0 tournament records into the game and the Cardinals can wrap up the championship with a win today against Middletown in a final-round game. Middletown, 2-1 in the JV standings, can clinch the title with a victory over Clear Lake and a Kelseyville loss today to Lower Lake.
The Cardinals struck early, building a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. It was 16-4 after one quarter and 34-17 at halftime. The Knights were never closer than 15 points in the second half.
Cory Dillon led a balanced Clear Lake scoring attack with 17 points. Noel McCormack and Robert Anderson finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively, Ryan Richardson added nine and Seth Glazier came off the bench to add eight.
Clear Lake”s defense limited Kelseyville”s top two scorers on the season, Nick Schaefer and Mike Duman, to a combined one point in the first half. Schaefer ended up with 10 points, Hippolito Perez had nine and Duman and Alex Tannous eight apiece.
In the early JV game Friday:
Middletown 57, Upper Lake 41
Ryan Galusha”s 16 points powered the Mustangs to their second straight tournament win. Kyle Harmyk and Brandon Skinner added 12 points apiece and Zack Strickler had 10.
Middletown put the game away early, outscoring Upper Lake 19-8 in the first quarter. The Mustangs held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Both teams scored 18 points in the final period.
Upper Lake, which finishes tournament play at 0-4, was led by Cory Gonzales” 19 points.
The Clear Lake-Middle-town game tips off at 3 p.m. and the Kelseyville-Lower Lake JVs follow at 4:30 p.m.
