LOWER LAKE — The Middletown Mustangs spotted Kelseyville a 5-0 lead before scoring 36 first-quarter points on Friday in the early junior varsity game at the 15th annual Record-Bee Hoop Classic.
And if that”s not impressive enough, the Mustangs went on to beat the Knights 80-59 in a game that wasn”t even that close, breaking the tournament”s single-game JV scoring record — previously 74 — in the process.
Middletown”s victory combined with Clear Lake”s 75-40 win over Upper Lake in the late JV game on Friday sets up a first-place showdown today between Middletown and Clear Lake, both 3-0, at 3 p.m. at the Lower Lake High School gym.
Bo Sheffer”s 19 points propelled a multi-pronged Middletown attack, one that feeds off the backcourt pressure it applies on defense. The Mustangs” pressure was so effective that Kelseyville failed to get the ball across midcourt — or even near it — on many of its first-quarter possessions.
After Max Huff of Kelseyville hit a shot to knot the game at 9 in the first quarter, Middletown scored the game”s next 29 points. The Mustangs stopped pressing the Knights with 48 seconds left in the opening period.
John-Wesley Davis scored 13 points and Jereomy Hoefer and Chris Oatman had 10 apiece for the Mustangs.
Clear Lake 75, Upper Lake 40
John Glazier led a balanced Clear Lake attack with 14 points, Steven Edwards added 11 and Kyle Donald had 10 as the Cardinals overwhelmed the Cougars with a 41-22 first half.
Eleven different Clear Lake players scored.
Mark Umalin”s 14 points paced the Cougars and Tyler Warren had nine.
Upper Lake finishes the tournament 0-4.
