FORT BRAGG — Fort Bragg was coming off a double-overtime victory against Willits the night before, but Middletown had to make that long trip over to the Mendocino Coast, so it was like offsetting penalties in football.
When the host Timberwolves and visiting Mustangs took to the court Saturday evening in Fort Bragg, there was plenty on the line in this North Central League I North varsity boys” basketball game.
Fort Bragg, once 1-3 in the North standings and seemingly out of the league race before there even was one, scratched out a do-or-die 48-45 victory over Middletown to keep its title hopes alive. Middletown (4-3, 11-13) could have clinched no worse than a tie for the North crown with a win, while Fort Bragg (4-3) needed a W to send the wild North race to a final-day conclusion, which is exactly the case.
Fort Bragg, Middletown and Willits all can claim at least a share of the title with a win tonight as the league race wraps up. Fort Bragg visits Kelseyville (3-4) and Middletown calls on Willits. The only thing for sure is that the Middletown-Willits winner earns at least half the league title — or the whole thing if Fort Bragg loses. The Timberwolves can do no better than a co-championship if they beat the Knights.
If Fort Bragg and Willits or Fort Bragg and Middletown share the league title, the team that finishes higher in the NCL I North postseason tournament, which opens Thursday in Middletown, will earn the automatic berth into next week”s North Coast Section playoffs.
“Turnovers just killed us,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said of the 20 turnovers committed by the all-too-generous Mustangs.
“We didn”t shoot the ball well either and they did a great job defensively,” Mullin said.
The Timberwolves didn”t appear to be fatgued after their double-overtime win the night before, according to Mullin.
“They came out with a lot of energy, played man and didn”t let us get comfortable at all,” Mullin said.
Both teams struggled on offense in the opening period, which ended with Fort Bragg up 8-3. Middletown trailed 19-17 at halftime and 37-33 entering the fourth quarter.
“We were behind the whole way until about 30 seconds to go,” Mullin said.
Middletown grabbed a one-point lead that didn”t last very long. Fort Bragg drew a foul on its next trip down the floor and hit two free throws to go ahead to stay.
The Mustangs still had a chance to win the game with 19 seconds left but a turnover put the ball back in Fort Bragg”s hands. Middletown had to foul with 4.5 seconds remaining and the ensuing sequence turned out to be a nightmare for the Mustangs. Fort Bragg made the first free throw to go up 47-45 but missed the second. However, the Timberwolves grabbed the offensive rebound and Middletown had to foul again.
Fort Bragg again made one of two shots to take a 48-45 lead.
Middletown brought the ball inbounds with just a little over a second remaining and got off a halfcourt shot that didn”t come close.
Bo Sheffer”s 14 points paced the Mustangs and John Hays added 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
“John really did a good job,” Mullin said.
Hays also went three-for-five from 3-point range.
Looking ahead to tonight”s big league finale with the Wolverines — Willits beat Middletown 60-50 on Jan. 29 in Middletown — Mullin said the stakes are clear.
“That”s our season,” Mullin said. “We win and we”re first, we lose and we”re third.
“We”re ready. We”ve really got to have some shots go and catch some breaks. We”ve got to bring our ?A” game,” Mullin added.
