CALISTOGA — Even if the game didn”t count in the standings, the Middletown Mustangs tuned up for the official start of the 2008-09 boys” basketball season with a 54-25 victory over the Calistoga Wildcats on Tuesday in Calistoga.
Because it was a North Coast Section Foundation Game, the contest does not count for either team in the standings. Foundation Games are fundraisers for the North Coast Section and are not official games.
Middletown, with most of its starters still playing football, brought up a pair of junior varsity players to beef up its depleted roster.
Returning starter Dustin Peterson led the Mustangs with 23 points and Brett Humphrey added 10.
“Brett Humphrey really had a good game,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said. “He did a great job on defense.”
Leading 24-14 at halftime, the Mustangs put the game away with an 18-7 third quarter.
“Our defense did a good job, but the offense sputtered,” Mullin said. “That”s the way it usually is this time of year.”
Middletown”s first official game is Thursday, Dec. 4 against Rio Vista in the opening round of the St. Helena Tournament.
