HEALDSBURG — Scott Conrad”s second season as the head coach of the Kelseyville High School varsity boys” basketball team is starting a whole lot better than his first.
“Last year I didn”t get my first win until January, so I”ll take it,” Conrad said of the Knights” season-opening 41-31 victory over the Healdsburg Greyhounds on Tuesday night at Smith Robinson Gym in Healdsburg.
Kelseyville dropped 10 straight to start the 2006-07 season and went on to finish 7-20. Conrad is hoping for better things from his 2007-08 squad.
“We were pretty tight at the start,” Conrad said of the Knights” two-point first quarter. “We did a good job running the offense but we couldn”t get the ball to go down. As soon as we got one to go down, the kids relaxed a little bit.”
Trailing 7-2 after the opening period, Kelseyville outscored the Greyhounds 15-7 in the second quarter to push ahead 17-14 by halftime.
“It was their fourth game and our first, so I was pleased,” Conrad said of his team”s overall effort.
Isaac McQueen scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to pace the Knights (1-0). Mike Duman also had a big game with eight points, 14 rebounds (12 on the defensive boards) and two blocks.
“He really played a nice game for us,” Conrad said of Duman.
The Knights face Corning on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the Live Oak Tournament.
In other action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 60, Esparto 42
At Lakeport, Armando Martinez scored 18 points, Ryan Richardson added 15 and Jameson Holder had 12 as the Clear Lake Cardinals improved to 3-1 with an easy win over Esparto.
Richardson also had five assists, three steals and two blocks to go along with his 15 points.
“He played an excellent all-around floor game, especially on offense,” Clear Lake coach Ken Hook said. “He does a great job hitting the open man.”
The Cardinals” standout on defense was Noel McCormak, according to Hook.
“He is playing really good defense right now,” Hook added.
Rawley Butler added five points and nine rebounds and Tyler Glazier had four points and eight rebounds as the Cardinals cruised even without Corey Dillon (out because of illness) in the lineup.
The Cardinals return to action Thursday against Hoopa in the opening round of the Potter Valley Tournament. Tip-off is 5 p.m.
Piedmont 63, Middletown 30
At Middletown, the Highlanders dominated the Middletown Mustangs despite strong individual efforts from Tyler Hunt and Zack Strickler.
Hunt scored 15 points and had nine rebounds on a night when the Mustangs (2-3) hit only 11 of 50 shots from the field. Strickler played solid defense, according to Middletown coach Mike Mullin. “He did a hell of a job,” Mullin said. “He drew two charges.”
Middletown trailed 36-16 after the first half.
“Our intensity in the first half was pretty good, but they just beat us in every phase of the game,” Mullin said of the Highlanders.
Johnny Harmyk had six points, eight rebounds and two steals for Middletown and Sam Fiddler added three points, five rebounds and two steals. John Hays had three assists.
Middletown opens play in the Redwood Empire Invitational on Thursday in Healdsburg. Lower Lake is also entered in the tournament, which is one of the oldest in Northern California.
Girls” basketball
Clear Lake 56, Esparto 49
At Esparto, Julie Jackson”s season-high 27 points powered the Clear Lake Cardinals past Esparto in a non-league game Monday night.
Jackson, a senior guard, helped the Cardinals (2-3) maintain a double-digit lead throughout most of the game. It was her second straight 20-point outing.
Kaila Sterbank added 10 points and Sunny McFall had eight for the Cardinals, winners of two straight.
“Kaila and Julie have been playing together for so long that they know how to find each other,” Clear Lake coach Jennifer Goff said. “We had solid play from everyone.”
Clear Lake opens play against an opponent to be determined Thursday at 4 p.m. in the first round of the St. Helena Tournament.
JV boys” basketball
Clear Lake 57, Esparto 12
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals outscored Esparto 29-0 in the first half while improving to 4-0 on the season.
Nate Secrest led Clear Lake with 13 points and Jared Ashworth had 11.
Nine of Clear Lake”s 10 players scored in the game.
Clear Lake returns to action Friday against Ukiah in the opening round of the Willits Tournament.
