FORT BRAGG — The Fort Bragg Timberwolves moved a step closer to clinching no worse than a share of the North Central League I North title on Tuesday night with a 50-35 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans in varsity girls” basketball action at Fort Bragg.
Fort Bragg is 6-1 in league play with only one game remaining, a home contest on Friday against the winless Middletown Mustangs (0-6). If the Timberwolves prevail, they can do no worse than finish tied for first.
The loss eliminated Lower Lake (3-3 league, 15-9 overall) from the North race.
“Fort Bragg just played a real solid basketball game,” Lower Lake coach Andrew Carpenter said. “We could not sustain a run.”
Hitting only six of 32 shots from the field in the first half, the Trojans trailed 29-15 at halftime. They opened the second half with a 6-0 run to pull within eight, but Karissa Lang buried a 3-pointer for the Timberwolves and Lower Lake never recovered.
“It took the wind out of our sails,” Carpenter said.
Lang”s 16 points paced Fort Bragg.
Three players combined to score all but three of the Trojans” points. Megan Mucks led the way with 12 points and Rissy Prude and Danielle Bettencourt added 10 apiece.
In other girls” action Tuesday:
- Kelseyville 44, Willits 23
- Middletown 62, St. Helena 33
At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs avoided their 20th loss of the season as senior Julia Leathers, playing her final home game, matched her season high with 24 points in a lopsided NCL I interlock victory over the St. Helena Saints.
Middletown (4-19) set a season high for points scored in a single game while beating St. Helena for the second time this season (the Mustangs beat the Saints 34-32 back in December).
“Julia stepped it up a notch,” Pyzer said. “She played lights out for us. She played with a lot of extra enthusiasm.”
- Cloverdale 55, Clear Lake 33
At Cloverdale, Cloverdale”s man-to-man pressure took its toll on the Clear Lake Cardinals and the Eagles rolled to an easy victory that keeps them atop the NCL I South standings.
“They are very aggressive,” Clear Lake coach Jen Goff said of the Eagles, now 6-1 in the South standings with one game remaining. “It was a very physical game, but it always is when we go down there. It”s a different type of game than we”re used to playing.”
Not all of the Cardinals” problems on offense were because of Cloverdale”s defense, according to Goff.
“We struggled … we just couldn”t get it (the ball) to go through the hoop. We were shooting the ball, working it inside, doing what were supposed to, but we couldn”t score.”
Brittany Rumfelt”s 19 points paced the Cardinals, now 3-3 in the South standings and 12-9 overall.
- St. Vincent 53, Upper Lake 26
At Upper Lake, the host Cougars lost their 20th game of the season as the St. Vincent Mustangs improved to 5-1 in NCL I South action. Upper Lake is 0-7 in league and 2-20 overall.
“They play all year,” Upper Lake coach Froy Mendoza said of the St. Vincent players. “It makes a difference. They”re one of the best teams we”ve played.”
Mendoza praised the play of Cierra Peel, one of four Upper Lake players to score six points.
“She was pulling down rebounds and doing all the little things you need,” Mendoza said.
At Willits, playing airtight defense, the Kelseyville Knights stayed in the thick of the NCL I North race with a win over the Willits Wolverines.
“We haven”t given up a lot of points,” Kelseyville coach Jim Salmina said of his team”s solid play on defense for the past month.
The Knights struggled from the field most of the night, especially in the first half when they led just 19-8 at halftime.
“We shot a little better in the second half,” Salmina said.
Lauren Nixon scored 10 points, including her 900th career point, to lead Kelseyville, now 5-1 in league and 16-8 overall. Jodi Snider added nine points and Jill Bailey and Amanda Mueller each had eight.
The Knights have won seven in a row and 11 of their last 12.
