WILLITS — The Willits Wolverines put a stranglehold on the North Central League I North varsity girls” basketball race with a 65-39 victory over the Kelseyville Knights on Tuesday night in Willits.
Willits improved to 5-0 in the North standings and has a two-game lead over both Kelseyville (3-2) and Lower Lake (3-2) with three games remaining. The Wolverines can clinch a tie for the title if they win on the road Friday in Lower Lake.
Willits raced out to a 10-0 lead and never looked back. The Wolverines had leads of 17-9 after one quarter, 32-20 at halftime and 48-36 after three quarters.
“They had the intensity from the get-go,” Kelseyville coach Caitlin Andrus said. “They put us right back on our heels.”
Early foul trouble didn”t help the Knights” cause as both Ashley Mueller and Monique Santana had three fouls by halftime.
Mueller was charged with guarding Willits” Ceara Snyder, who finished the game with a team-high 22.
Snyder had an easier time once Mueller went to the bench in foul trouble.
“She only had seven points in the first half and three of them were free throws,” Andrus said of Snyder.
Skyler Olsen”s 21 points paced the Knights, now 13-8 overall.
“Olsen played her heart out,” Andrus said. “She was on the ground, diving for balls ? she wanted it.”
