KELSEYVILLE — The North Central League I North varsity boys” basketball race is up for grabs following the Kelseyville Knights” 66-63 victory over the Willits Wolverines on Tuesday night in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville”s victory creates a virtual three-way tie atop the North standings with Middletown at 2-1 and both Lower Lake and Willits at 3-2. The Knights improved to 2-3 and are 9-11 overall.
Steven Grossner”s return to the Kelseyville lineup provided the Knights with a boost against the Wolverines, who were coming off a big win at Middletown.
“It”s huge,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said of Grossner”s return. “He makes us so much more athletic.”
Max Huff”s 25 points, including a 9-for-9 night at the free-throw line, and 15 rebounds led the Knights,
“That was probably the difference in the game,” Conrad said of Huff”s accuracy from the stripe.
The Knights made all six of their free throws down the stretch to hold of the Wolverines in a back-and-forth game.
“Both teams were making shots,” Conrad said. “They”d hit a big shot and we”d answer with one.”
Peter Wotherspoon had 19 points and seven assists for the Knights.
Tim Compton”s 24 points paced Willits.
Lower Lake 55, Fort Bragg 52
At Fort Bragg, Gage Carlson scored 10 of his team-leading 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Lower Lake Trojans held off the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in NCL I North action.
“You come out of Fort Bragg with a win, you take it,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said. “We found a way to win. We really grinded this game out.”
Lower Lake (3-2, 13-10) led by as many as six points in the fourth quarter. Fort Bragg closed to one late in the period before Carlson scored on a layup.
“I thought he really took charge of the game with some critical drives to the basket,” Udy said of Carlson.
George Novak added eight of his 14 points in the third quarter for Lower Lake and Jaymen Richardson, who struggled from the field, pulled down 14 rebounds and had four assists.
St. Helena 45, Middletown 38
At St. Helena, the Middletown Mustangs hit just about everything but the basket in their NCL I interlock loss to the St. Helena Saints.
“We had a lot of intensity and played pretty good defense, but at some point we have to start scoring some points,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said.
The Mustangs (9-11) hit just 15 of 41 shots from two-point range and were 0-for-11 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“And we had 26 turnovers,” Mullin said. “The only thing good about tonight is it was a non-league game.”
Chris Oatman was the one bright spot for the Mustangs as he led the team with 10 points. Bo Sheffer, Jereomy Hoefer, John-Wesley Davis and Jacob Anderson added six points apiece.
St. Vincent 57, Upper Lake 43
At Petaluma, Brandon Bills and Billy Armstrong scored 11 points apiece, but the Upper Lake Cougars fell to 0-5 in the NCL I South standings as they lost to the St. Vincent Mustangs (4-1).
“It”s one of the better games we”ve ever played down here,” Upper Lake coach Forrest Stogner said of the Petaluma venue.
The Cougars were locked in a fairly tight struggle with the Mustangs most of the first half.
“We were playing pretty good defense and they popped three 3s in the final 1:22 of the first half, a 9-0 run,” Stogner said.
That late surge pushed St. Vincent”s lead to 34-21 by halftime.
Mike Cox had six points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals for the Cougars. Point guard Mike Dawson had only two points but dished out seven assists.
Girls” basketball
Lower Lake 55, Fort Bragg 24
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans tapped a new source of offense while rolling past the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in NCL I North girls” action.
Katreena Galindo scored a season-high 11 points, tying teammate Jonesha Beasley for game-high scoring honors, as the Trojans improved to 3-2 in the North standings and 15-8 overall.
“The kids played with a lot of energy and did a great job in that first quarter,” Lower Lake coach Jim Salmina said of the 18-4 lead the Trojans built in the opening period. “I subbed in the second and split up the starters and reserves in the third and fourth quarters.”
April White added nine points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the win and Veronica Wilder had seven points and five assists.
“I thought April played great,” Salmina said. “And those five assists by Wilder are like another 10 points.”
St. Vincent 41, Upper Lake 35
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars closed to within three points of the St. Vincent Mustangs late in the fourth quarter before falling in NCL I South action.
“We played one of our better, cleaner games in a long, long time,” Upper Lake coach Don Meri said.
The Cougars suited up seven players, one of them called up from the junior varsity squad.
Katherine Edmonds led the Cougars (0-4, 7-14) with 12 points and Taryn Re added 10.
“Re and Edmonds both had some good baskets in transition,” Meri said. “They worked well up high together.”
St. Helena 71, Middletown 21
At Middletown, Maddy Densberger scored 17 of her 19 points in the first half as the St. Helena Saints beat the Middletown Mustangs in NCL I interlock action.
“They”re a very tough team, their first five are very good,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said. “My girls played as hard as they could and that”s all I can ask.”
Alexis Rockwell”s 12 points paced Middletown, now 3-17 overall.
Cloverdale 70, Clear Lake 22
At Cloverdale, a 30-6 first quarter propelled the NCL I South-leading Cloverdale Eagles to a rout of the Clear Lake Cardinals.
“We just don”t match up well with them and playing down in their gym is always tough,” Clear Lake coach Jennifer Goff said.
Briana Butcher”s nine points paced the Cardinals, who are 1-4 in league and 6-14 overall.
