LOWER LAKE — Hipolito Perez scored a season-best 16 points, including three 3-pointers, and the Kelseyville Knights beat the Willits Wolverines 58-50 in a first-round game during the North Central League I North postseason basketball tournament on Thursday at Lower Lake.
Willits finished second to Kelseyville”s third in the regular-season NCL I North standings, each beating the other on their home court. Thursday”s rubber match went to the Knights, who shut out one of the Wolverines” top players, Jesus Nunez.
“We used a triangle-and-two and box-and-one on both (Tim) Compton and Nunez,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “The kids did a good job. It was primarily Nick (Schaefer) and Mike Davis on Nunez.”
Compton led the Wolverines with 20 points.
Willits led 15-13 after one quarter before Kelseyville”s defense took control in the second period, limiting the Wolverines to just two points, and the Knights had a 21-17 lead by the half.
Peter Wotherspoon joined Perez in double digits for the Knights with 11 points, Mike Duman added eight, while Schaefer and Mike Allen finished with six apiece.
Perez also finished with eight rebounds.
Kelseyville, now 11-16 overall, draws Middletown tonight in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. The Knights won both their league meetings against the Mustangs, who stunned NCL I North champ Fort Bragg 88-65 in the other first-round game on Thursday. Kelseyville is 2-1 overall against Middletown this season.
In other boys” action Thursday:
Middletown 88, Fort Bragg 65
At Lower Lake, senior guard Zach Strickler erupted for a season- and career-best 33 points as the Middletown Mustangs hammered NCL I North champion Fort Bragg in the other first-round game.
In their two earlier league games, Middletown beat Fort Bragg 59-57 in overtime on Feb. 10 in Fort Bragg and lost 44-40 to the Timberwolves on Jan. 23 in Middletown.
Strickler was 14-for-19 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
“Zach”s always been an aggressive player and he”s always hustling,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said. “He”s had his share of ups and downs, but this was the best game of his career.”
The game was tied at 17 after one quarter, but it was all Middletown from there, beginning with a 26-6 second quarter.
“Maybe it”s too little too late, but it”s a nice way to close out a season,” Mullin said of the Mustangs” surge on offense. “We”ve got one more to go and hopefully we can with that one, too.”
Johnny Harmyk scored 10 points for the Mustangs and Dustin Peterson pulled down 15 rebounds.
St. Vincent 67, Clear Lake 64
At St. Helena, St. Vincent improved to 3-0 against Clear Lake this season with a win in the opening round of the NCL I South postseason tournament.
The Cardinals are 15-12 and in the running for a Division IV at-large berth in next week”s North Coast Section tournament (the 12-team field will be finalized on Sunday).
St. Vincent plays Cloverdale in tonight”s championship game.
Noel McCormack scored a career-best 21 points to spark the Cardinals, who stayed close to the Mustangs the entire game.
“Noel had the game of his life,” Clear Lake coach Glenn Wienke said. “He missed only two shots.”
John Glazier”s defense was another factor in keeping the game within reach, according to Wienke. “He did an outstanding job.”
Ryan Richardson scored 19 points and Corey Dillon had 15 for the Cardnials. Glazier added six.
