ST. HELENA — Clear Lake”s defense slowed down Middletown”s Tyson Hunt and the Cardinals” offense had a big first half in a 65-46 victory over the Mustangs in the consolation championship game of the St. Helena Tournament for varsity boys” basketball teams on Saturday in St. Helena.
“Our defense keyed our offense,” Clear Lake coach Ken Hook said. “We got a bunch of steals and a fair number of layups.”
Clear Lake (2-1) led 21-10 after the first quarter and 39-18 at halftime. Three 3-pointers in the opening period — two by Corey Dillon (15 points) and another by Jameson Holder (14 points) — got the Cardinals out of the gate quickly.
Middletown”s Hunt, who entered play averaging better than 20 points a game, finished with 15 to lead the Mustangs (2-2).
“He”s the toughest player around here as far as I”m concerned,” Hook said of Middletown”s 6-foot-5 senior forward. “You really can”t stop him but we did a nice job defending him.”
Clear Lake”s Zane Butler, who stands 6-6, drew Hunt.
“He battled hard and did a great job on him,” Hook said.
The Cardinals often double-teamed Hunt, with Butler standing behind him and a guard helping out.
“Zane did a nice job keeping him off the (offensive) boards,” Hook said.
Clear Lake guard Armando Martinez, who along with Hunt were named to the All-Tournament team, finished with 10 points to join teammates Dillon and Holder in double figures. Rawley Butler added eight points.
For Middletown, Dylan Galusha had 10 points and Dustin Peterson seven.
In other action Saturday:
Crystal Springs 62, Upper Lake 41
At Boonville, Crystal Springs jumped on Upper Lake early and never looked back in a final-round game at the Redwood Classic.
Crystal Springs scored the game”s first 12 points and led 17-6 after one quarter.
“It was like we were hung over from the night before,” Upper Lake coach Forrest Stogner said of a 75-28 loss to International Studies on Friday night. “We just didn”t use our speed against them.”
All-Tournament selection Kyle Coleman had nine points and 13 rebounds to lead the Cougars (2-2) in both categories. Coleman scored all of Upper Lake”s points in the first quarter and was double- and triple-teamed the rest of the night.
“His scoring doesn”t reflect how well he played,” Stogner said.
Jayce Meri and Quinn Womachka had eight points apiece for the Cougars.
Berean Christian 55, Lower Lake 44
At Walnut Creek, minus starter David Clark, who was ill, the Lower Lake Trojans had their chances before falling to Berean Christian in the championship game of the Best of the West Classic.
Lower Lake trailed 31-21 at halftime but cut that deficit to three points on two occasions in the fourth quarter.
“We had the ball both times with a chance to cut it to one,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said. “The first time we missed two free throws and the other time we missed a 10-footer.”
Kevin Freeman”s 17 points paced Lower Lake and Mike Deakins and A.J. Harris added 10 points apiece.
Girls” basketball
Kelseyville 56, Piner 28
At Sebastopol, first-year Kelseyville coach Caitlin Andrus picked up her first career win as the Knights pounded the Piner Prospectors in the seventh-place game of the Analy Tournament.
“It felt good,” Andrus said of her first win. “I”m learning that you have to learn from your losses, but it was nice to get the first one.”
Kelseyville outscored Piner 31-5 in the second half to break open a close game at halftime.
“I told them to run and that”s what they did,” Andrus said. “I thought we might be tired (third game in three days), but they were on their game. We pushed the ball and did a great job in transition.”
Jodi Snider”s 17 points paced the Knights (1-3) and Allyson Brown added 10, including all three of Kelseyville”s 3-pointers. Ashley Mueller added eight points.
Clear Lake 39, Champion 38
At Colusa, Julie Jackson scored 13 of Clear Lake”s 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals beat Champion Christian in a final-round game of the Colusa Tournament. It was the Cardinals” first win of the season.
Jackson led all scorers with 20 points, including a 3-pointer.
“At the end of the game when it came down to seconds and possessions, I wanted the ball in Julie”s hands,” Clear Lake coach Jennifer Goff said. “Both defensively and offensively Julie secured the win for us.”
Kirstie Chapin was the only other Clear Lake player to score in the fourth quarter.
Sunny McFall had eight points for Clear Lake (1-3).
Clear Lake”s Kaila Sterbank was named to the All-Tournament team.
Tamalpais 52, Middletown 13
At Sebastopol, Middle-town struggled from the field all game and fell to Tamalpais in the consolation championship game of the Analy Tournament.
Nikeedra Davis and Kayla Welton scored four points apiece to pace Middletown (1-3).
“We took plenty of good shots from the paint and couldn”t get anything to fall,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said. “When that happens and you”re playing a good, solid team like Tamalpais, you”re in trouble.”
Berean Christian 54, Lower Lake 33
At Walnut Creek, the Lower Lake Trojans suffered their first loss of the season as they fell to Berean Christian in the championship game of the Best of the West Classic.
Berean Christian led 29-15 at halftime and continued to pull away in the third quarter.
Chelsey Fiedler”s seven points sparked the Trojans (3-1) and Amanda Bettencourt added six.
Lower Lake opens play in the Durham Tournament on Thursday.
