MIRANDA — Mike Duman scored 16 points, including a four-point play in the third quarter that broke South Fork”s back, and the Kelseyville Knights tuned up for a big, Big, BIG week ahead with a 66-43 non-league varsity boys” basketball victory over the Cubs on Saturday in Miranda.
Kelseyville (9-12) has won four in a row since dropping five straight. The Knights also find themselves tied for first with two other teams — Fort Bragg and Willits — in the North Central League I North standings heading into the week. And guess who they play in the next four days?
Yep, you guessed it, it”s Fort Bragg (tonight at home) and Willits (on Friday in Willits).
“It”s the first time these kids have been put in this situation in their high school (basketball) careers,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said of tonight”s first-place showdown with the Timberwolves, who mauled the Knights 71-51 on Jan. 16 in Fort Bragg.
“If we”re going to continue to build our program, we need these games,” Conrad said. “This is the type of game we”re not used to … a battle for first place … so it will interesting to see how the kids respond,” Conrad added. “I”m really excited.”
Conrad said the Knights had one of their best practices of the season on Monday in preparation for the Timberwolves, who lost their first league game on Friday to Willits.
Kelseyville had to overcome a bit of adversity early against South Fork during Saturday”s action. After jumping out to a quick 10-0 lead, the Knights ran into some foul trouble.
“That put us on our heels a little bit, but I thought we responded,” Conrad said.
Jared Wagner came off the bench to score six of his eight points in the first half and he also finished the game with eight rebounds.
“He did a really good job in the first half,” Conrad said. “He was more aggressive that we”ve ever seen him.”
Duman also took up some of the scoring slack with other starters in foul trouble.
“He”s been very unselfish for us this season,” Conrad said. “But we got into a spot where we were struggling offensively and he sensed we needed some offense and took over.”
Duman buried a 3-pointer and drew a foul in the third quarter. He also made the free throw for a rare four-point play that put the Knights up by 19.
“That pretty much broke their back,” Conrad said.
Mike Davis finished with 12 points and freshman Wyatt Ferrell had 10.
