PETALUMA — Clear Lake”s perimeter game was nowhere to be found and the Cardinals never recovered from a 20-7 first-quarter deficit in falling to the St. Vincent Mustangs 52-43 in North Central League I South varsity boys” basketball action on Tuesday in Petaluma.
While Clear Lake (2-1 league, 12-5 overall) did close the gap on St. Vincent (3-0) in the first-place South showdown, the Cardinals never could get the one shot they needed, according to coach Ken Hook.
“We never did make an outside shot when we needed to,” Hook said. “Not one.”
Pounding the ball inside center Kory Hook (11 points) and forward Brandon White (nine points), the Cardinals outscored St. Vincent 17-9 in the third period to close the gap to 40-35 entering the fourth period. Hook and White combined for 14 of Clear Lake”s 17 third-quarter points.
“They came out much quicker and more intense than we expected,” Hook said of Clear Lake”s first-quarter woes. “We weren”t ready for it.”
Augie Perez had eight points for Clear Lake.
In other boys” action Tuesday:
Kelseyville 70, Lower Lake 63
At Lower Lake, Kelseyville trailed 22-14 after the first quarter, but a 30-point second quarter by the Knights launched them to only their third win of the season but their second in a row against the Trojans in NCL I North action.
Both teams are now 1-2 in league. Kelseyville improves to 3-15 overall and Lower Lake slips to 7-13.
“You give up 30 points in one quarter and you”re going to make it difficult on yourself,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said. “It was a combination of bad defense and great shooting. They hit six 3-pointers in the quarter.”
Wes Stevenson (19 points) and Joe Gatlyn (10 points) each hit a pair of treys in the period as the Knights moved in front 44-37 by halftime.
“Even if they”re wide-open for threes they still have to make them and they did, so they deserve all the credit,” Udy said. “I think they really played well.”
Lower Lake struggled from behind the 3-point stripe, going just 2-for-14. And the Trojans also missed 18 free throws.
Stevenson and Mike Duman (16 points) both had season highs in the scoring department. Isaac McQueen added nine points.
Jeff Wilder”s 18 points and 12 rebounds paced Lower Lake. A.J. Harris added 16 points and Kevin Freeman had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Fort Bragg 63, Middletown 47
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves peppered the Middletown Mustangs for 10 3-pointers, six of those during a 26-point second quarter, in this NCL I North game matching last year”s league co-champions.
“They”re hard to defend,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said of the Timberwolves, who also can pound the ball inside.
“We couldn”t recover from that second quarter,” Mullin added.
Fort Bragg”s 26-15 surge in the second period gave the Timberwolves a 40-30 halftime lead.
“They have nine guys who can play and they just wore us down,” said Mullin, who added that his team”s overall performance was much better than in recent games.
“We”re playing better, there was improvement tonight,” he said.
Tyler Hunt”s 15 points and 17 rebounds powered Middletown, now 0-3 in league and 8-12 overall.
Fort Bragg is 4-0 in the North standings.
Willits 61, Upper Lake 41
At Upper Lake, Willits point guard Charley Wright powered the Willits Wolverines to an NCL I interlock victory over the Upper Lake Cougars.
“He makes things happen,” Upper Lake coach Forrest Stogner said of Wright. “He”s big and quick.”
Wright scored 14 of his team-leading 18 points in the second half.
“Willits played really well, they”re a tough team,” Stogner added.
Max Curtis scored 11 points and Jacob Widener had 10 for the Cougars (4-15), who lost their 11th straight.
“We had a couple of good spurts and even cut it to 10 (in the second half),” Stogner said. “The kids aren”t giving up, but we need a win,” he added.
Quinn Womachka had eight points for Upper Lake, including two of the team”s four 3-pointers.
Widener led the Cougars with 13 rebounds.
