KELSEYVILLE — Phillip Blueford kept on shooting Friday night against Kelseyville, scoring 29 points, including nine 3-pointers, as Burton of San Francisco sent the Knights to a 67-49 loss in a winner”s semifinal game at the 36th annual Stokes Invitational Basketball Tournament in Kelseyville.
“The last thing we talked about before we broke our huddle was guarding him,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “But we didn”t get out and cover that very well.”
Blueford, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, made six 3-pointers in the first half and three more in the third quarter as Burton earned the right to play Valley Christian of San Jose in tonight”s championship game at 7:30 p.m. Kelseyville, which lost for only the third time in 11 games this season, plays Ferndale for third place at 4:30 p.m.
After Kelseyville built a 15-10 first-quarter lead, Burton began to assert itself on both ends of the court.
“We turned the ball over quite a bit,” Conrad said. “They”re really quick and athletic, so credit Burton for a lot of those turnovers.”
When the Knights had to sit starter Mike Duman because of foul trouble in the second half, Burton put the game out of reach.
“We played hard, but I think we got a little tired and stopped coming to the ball,” Conrad said. “We cannot afford not to be at the top of our game and turn the ball over the way we did against a team like that.”
Isaac McQueen”s 27 points led the Knights, who trailed 28-26 at halftime and 51-41 after three quarters.
“We”ll take it in stride and just move on,” Conrad said.
In the other winner”s semifinal Friday (see boys” roundup below), Valley Christian of San Jose smacked Ferndale 73-40 behind 26 points and eight 3-pointers from Max Hooper.
