MIDDLETOWN — John Hays” driving layup rolled around and off the rim in the final seconds Friday night as the Middletown Mustangs dropped a 52-51 nail-biter to the Willits Wolverines at Middletown.
It was the North Central League I North opener for both of these varsity boys” basketball teams and another in a series of tough losses for Middletown coach Mike Mullin this season.
“We”ve got to win some of these close games,” Mullin said. “We can”t lose all of them.”
Zach Strickler hit one of two free throws to cut Willits” lead to 52-51. Middletown immediately fouled a Willits player who went to the free-throw line for a one-and-one. He missed the front end, the Mustangs pulled down the rebound and Hays, after taking the pass, raced down the court with seven seconds remaining.
There was contact as Hays drove through the middle on his layup, but no foul was called.
“It was an aggressive play on their part and there could have been a fouled call,” Mullin said.
When Hays” shot rolled around and out, the Mustangs (0-1 North, 5-10 overall) came down with the offensive rebound but couldn”t get a shot off before time expired.
Mullin said his players “played hard” but added, “We”re digging holes late in games and we can”t recover.”
Dustin Peterson led the Mustangs with a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds. He also had three steals. Strickler finished with 13 points and Hays added 12.
In other boys” action Friday:
Fort Bragg 71, Kelseyville 51
At Kelseyville, the Kelseyville Knights allowed 70 or more points for the fourth game in a row — all losses — and fell to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in the NCL I North opener for both teams.
“We flat out got outhustled,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “We don”t give ourselves a chance to win because we”re not playing defense and we”re not rebounding.”
As for the rest of the season, Conrad said changes may be in order for the Knights.
“We can lay down or we can fight, claw and scratch from here on out,” Conrad said. “I”m going to play the kids who want to fight, claw and scratch.”
Fort Bragg took control of the game with a 20-10 second quarter and put it away with a 27-16 final period.
“It was a pretty disappointing and frustrating night,” Conrad added.
Mike Davis” 12 points paced the Knights (0-1, 5-12) and Mike Duman added eight.
Healdsburg 75, Clear Lake 73
At Healdsburg, following a Clear Lake turnover with 3.6 seconds left, the Healdsburg Greyhounds scored on a last-second layup to snap a 73-all tie and beat the Clear Lake Cardinals, Healdsburg”s second win over Clear Lake this season.
Clear Lake (11-6) came storming back from a 15-point deficit midway through the third quarter to make a game of it.
The Cardinals were outscored 19-2 at the free-throw line.
Ryan Richardson”s 29 points, including three 3-pointers, paced Clear Lake.
Girls” basketball
Middletown 55, Willits 53 (OT)
At Willits, with center Kelsey Guzman in foul trouble most of the night, teammate Kelsey Welton scored a season-high 15 points to lift the Middletown Mustangs to an overtime victory over the Willits Wolverines in the NCL I North opener for both teams.
Middletown (1-0, 11-5) has won four straight and six of its last seven.
“Kelsey stepped it up and took charge,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said of his senior forward.
Pyzer also credited Elizabeth Wildt with a big game off the bench.
“With Guzman in foul trouble, she really did a nice job,” Pyzer said.
Willits overcame a three-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to get the game into overtime.
“They hit a big shot there at the end,” Pyzer said.
Willits also grabbed the early lead in the overtime period, but Middletown rallied back by hitting a series of free throws.
Welton went 9-for-10 at the line.
Jenny McGee scored 12 points for the Mustangs as did Guzman.
St. Helena 41, Upper Lake 21
At St. Helena, St. Helena led 10-0 after one quarter and 25-3 at halftime en route to a NCL I South-opening victory over the Upper Lake Cougars.
“They did a really good job of pressure defense,” Upper Lake coach Donnie Meri said of the Saints” trapping and man-to-man press defenses. “We didn”t possess the ball for the first minute 30 seconds of the first quarter.”
Upper Lake (0-1, 5-12) was unable to get the ball inside to center Katy DeVries, the Cougars” leading scorer on the season, until the second half.
“Katy never touched the ball in the first half,” Meri said.
DeVries finished with eight points and Taryn Re added six.
