MIDDLETOWN — The game was over, done, finished, or so it seemed.
Leading 44-19 at halftime, the Middletown High School junior varsity boys” basketball team was well on its way to improving to 3-0 in the North Central League I North standings and 14-0 overall Tuesday night in Middletown.
Then again, you might say the Kelseyville Knights had the Mustangs right where they wanted ”em … almost.
Middletown watched its entire lead disappear before beating the Knights 62-58 on the strength of two clutch John-Wesley Davis free throws and a Davis basket.
“They did a great job coming back,” Middletown coach Tom Knowles said of the Knights.
As he has done all season against opponents, Knowles went to his bench once Middletown”s lead appeared to reach the comfort zone.
“I had the starters out for half of the third (quarter), but it was still a good group of guys out there,” Knowles said of his reserves, a couple of whom could be starting for other teams in the county. “Give Kelseyville credit, they did a great job.”
Knowles began to sub in his starters as the Knights battled back — they tied the game at one point late in the fourth quarter — but it was still a struggle for the Mustangs.
“We couldn”t stop the momentum,” Knowles said.
And it also took Middletown”s starters a few minutes to regain the initiative, albeit barely.
Rallying from big deficits is nothing new for coach Scott Mandeville”s Knights, who overcame a 25-9 deficit in their last game, a 61-57 victory last week against Lower Lake.
“You can”t give a team better than a 20-point lead and expect to win,” Mandeville said of the Mustangs. “We had to do the same thing against Lower Lake, but you can”t make a habit of it and expect to be successful.”
Unproductive first halves hampered the Knights in both games, according to Mandeville. “I think they”re doing it to make me sweat. I”m like, ?Guys can we start playing in the first two quarters and not wait until the second half?””
Chris Augon sparked the comeback for Kelseyville, scoring 14 of his team-leading 19 points in the second half. Max Huff had eight of his 16 in the second half and Dustin Thaxton scored eight of his 10 down the stretch.
Davis finished with a team-high 19 points, Bo Sheffer added 12 and Jereomy Hoefer had 11 points and five assists to lead Middletown. Chris Oatman also pulled down 14 rebounds.
“It was a great game,” Mandeville said.
