MIDDLETOWN — Kids are told to share from an early age, but sometimes it”s OK to be selfish.
One of those times was Friday night in Middletown. Behind 16 points from Kelsey Guzman and 13 more from Jenny McGee, the host Mustangs clinched the outright North Central League I North varsity girls” basketball championship with a 45-40 victory over the Kelseyville Knights.
Had the Knights lost the game, they would have had to win Tuesday at home against Lower Lake to clinch the championship.
“There was a lot of pressure on us tonight and the girls responded,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said as the Mustangs (7-0 league, 17-6 overall) also wrapped up an automatic berth in the North Coast Section playoffs regardless of what happens Tuesday against Lower Lake or later next week in the NCL I North postseason tournament at Lower Lake.
“The girls are very happy,” Pyzer said. “They were really excited at the end of the game.”
Middletown im-proved to 3-0 against Kelseyville this season although the three games were decided by a grand total of 11 points.
“They were on our heels the whole night,” Pyzer said of the Knights. “They would not go away.”
Kelseyville coach Caitlin Andrus said the difference in the game was Guzman, Middletown”s senior center.
“She crashes the boards, she goes up strong and she finishes strong,” sand Andrus, who was pleased with her team”s effort.
Kelseyville finishes North play at 3-5 and is 13-12 overall.
In other girls” action Friday:
Clear Lake 51, Upper Lake 34
At Upper Lake, three nights after scoring 24 points and hitting seven 3-pointers in a win over St. Vincent, Clear Lake junior guard Katie Reynolds struck again, scoring 22 points with six more 3-pointers in a South victory over the Upper Lake Cougars.
“It was her night,” Upper Lake coach Don Meri said. “She was on fire.”
Upper Lake (2-5, 7-18) had success stopping Clear Lake”s top scorer, Kaila Sterbank, who had only five points, but the Cougars couldn”t slow down Reynolds, according to Meri.
“She worked her butt off out there,” Meri said. “And she didn”t take bad shots.”
Briana Butcher added 14 points as Clear Lake improved to 3-4 in the South and 10-12 overall.
Taryn Re”s 12 points paced Upper Lake.
Willits 62, Lower Lake 49
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans used an 8-2 run to close within two points of the Willits Wolverines in the third quarter of their NCL I North game, but Willits” Brenna Jessup intervened at that point and led the Wolverines to victory.
Jessup scored 11 of her 24 points in the third quarter to keep Willits in front.
Darlena White”s 13 points paced Lower Lake (2-5, 7-18).
Boys” basketball
Lower Lake 48, Willits 43
At Willits, Lower Lake won its second straight NCL I North boys” game, upsetting the first-place Willits Wolverines on their own court. As a result, the North title will come down to Tuesday”s game in Fort Bragg, where the Timberwolves (5-2) host the Wolverines (5-2) in the final game of the regular season.
Lower Lake”s win also puts the Trojans (2-5, 6-19) in a position to qualify for the final berth in the North postseason tournament, which opens Thursday in Lower Lake. The winner of Tuesday”s game between Lower Lake and Middletown (2-5) will get that final spot.
Lower Lake”s one-two inside punch of Forrest Davis (14 points) and David Clark (10 points) made the difference, according to Lower Lake coach Marty Udy.
“When it mattered we were able to get the ball inside and score,” Udy said.
Jaymen Richardson also had 10 points for the Trojans.
Kelseyville 59, Middletown 45
At Kelseyville, Kelsey-ville clinched third place in the North standings by beating the Middletown Mustangs.
A 22-9 first quarter was the difference in the game, according to both Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad and Middletown coach Mike Mullin.
“They carried that momentum throughout the game,” Mullin said.
Peter Wotherspoon”s 16 points and seven steals led the Knights (4-4, 10-15). Nick Schaefer added eight points and five assists.
Zach Strickler”s 11 points paced Middletown (2-5, 8-15).
Clear Lake 78, Upper Lake 73
At Upper Lake, not even Kyle Coleman”s triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists could stop the Clear Lake Cardinals, who rallied to beat Upper Lake in South action.
Corey Dillon”s 3-pointer with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Clear Lake (3-4, 15-10). He finished with 23 points. Ryan Richardson led the Cardinals with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Seth Glazier added a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Brandon Mendoza”s 22 points led Upper Lake (1-6, 8-16) and Dillon Gonzales added 16.
