MIDDLETOWN — The rubber game in the season series went to the Willits Wolverines, 50-36 winners over the Kelseyville Knights in a first-round boys” game on Thursday afternoon at the North Central League I North postseason basketball tournament in Middletown.
Kelseyville (12-14) and Willits (15-12) split their two league meetings. The Wolverines, coached by Duane Nelson in his final season at the school, advance to tonight”s championship game against Middletown at 8 p.m.
“It was a real sluggish game on both ends and we were a little more sluggish,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “Nobody had good energy.”
While the postseason tournament has no bearing on this year”s North race — Middletown won that on Tuesday by beating Willits 64-61 at Willits — a strong showing could help the Wolverines reach the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, which begin next week, as an at-large team.
Kelseyville needed to win the postseason tournament to qualify for a sectional playoff at-large berth, according to Conrad.
“We needed to get above .500,” Conrad said.
Kelseyville led 26-24 at halftime and trailed only 38-34 entering the final period, one the Wolverines dominated 12-2.
“We managed to turn the ball over 27 times,” Conrad said. “We just didn”t play well enough to win.”
Brandon Lindsay”s 11 points paced the Knights and Peter Wotherspoon added 10 in his final high school game.
“It”s a real unfortunate way to end a very good season,” Conrad said. “I enjoyed these kids and they worked hard through a lot of adversity ? we had some key injuries.”
Even with the injuries, the Knights came close to reaching their goal of winning the NCL I North, according to Conrad.
“We almost did it anyway,” Conrad said of the Knights” 4-4 finish, which tied them with Willits and Fort Bragg for second place, one game behind champion Middletown.
