MIDDLETOWN — Bo Sheffer ignited Middletown”s slumbering offense in the third quarter and the Mustangs finally beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves, 53-43, in a first-round boys” game on Thursday at the North Central League I North basketball tournament in Middletown.
Although Middletown (13-13) locked up an automatic playoff berth on Tuesday by beating Willits 64-61 to win the regular-season North championship, Thursday”s victory marked the Mustangs” first win in three tries against Fort Bragg this season. The Timberwolves won both league meetings, each time by three points.
Middletown started slowly on its home floor, spotting Fort Bragg a 9-0 lead.
“After a timeout we switched to a zone defense and did a much better job,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said.
Middletown crept back to 12-9 by quarter”s end and trailed 19-18 at halftime.
The game turned in the third quarter as the Mustangs outscored the Timberwolves 24-10. Sheffer provided the spark as he had five of his seven points and four of his seven assists in the quarter. Kyle Harmyk also helped pick up the pace by scoring eight of his team-leading 16 points in the period.
“Sheffer directed the ball real well and ignited the offense,” Mullin said.
Chris Oatman joined Harmyk in double figures with 10 points.
“We did a better job taking care of the ball in the second half,” Mullin said. “We had 17 turnovers, but most of them were in the first half.
The Mustangs advance to tonight”s championship game against Willits at 8 p.m. The Wolverines beat Kelseyville earlier in the evening to improve to 15-12. Both Mullin and Willits head coach Duane Nelson are stepping down at the end of the season.
