MIDDLETOWN — Both teams had chances to win and lose the game in the final chaotic seconds, but it was the Clear Lake Cardinals who emerged victorious with a 65-64 victory over the Middletown Mustangs in a back-and-forth North Central League I interlock varsity boys” basketball thriller on Thursday night in Middletown.
Three Clear Lake players had already fouled out and two others had four fouls apiece when Ryan Richardson”s driving layup with 12 seconds remaining gave the Cardinals a 65-64 lead. Moments earlier Daniel Gregorio came off the Clear Lake bench to score his only two points of the game as the Cardinals closed to 64-63.
Each team turned the ball over in the final seconds and Middletown also missed two free throws that could have won it or at least sent the game into overtime.
“It was loud, it was rowdy and it was a lot of fun,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said of the second meeting this season between the two schools (Clear Lake also won 80-68 on Dec. 20 in the Record-Bee Hoop Classic at Lower Lake). “It was one of the better non-league games you”ll see. There was a lot of energy and emotion out there tonight and that”s what I”ve been looking for.”
Middletown used a late run in the second quarter to cut Clear Lake”s halftime lead to 34-28. The Mustangs then surged ahead in the third quarter and took a 45-41 advantage into the final period.
“It was pretty much go, go, go,” Mullin said of the game”s tempo. “Clear Lake was up by as much as 11 and we had as much as a four-point lead.”
Richardson just missed a triple-double for the Cardinals (10-4) with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He also had two blocks. Corey Dillon added 15 points, Noel McCormack had 10 and Robert Anderson finished with five points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
Middletown players also put up some solid numbers. John Hays went 13-for-15 from the free-throw line and finished with a team-high 17 points to go along with six steals. Dustin Peterson added 15 points and 11 rebounds, Zach Strickler had 10 points, and Daniel Anderson had five points and 13 rebounds.
“We had a lot of chances and should have put the game away there near the end,” Mullin said.
Middletown drops to 5-8 on the season.
