MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Mustangs scored 19 points in the fourth quarter — as many as they had scored in the first three quarters combined — to force overtime before falling to the Willits Wolverines 46-43 in the boys” championship game of the North Central League I North basketball tournament on Friday night in Middletown.
“Overtime in the championship game of a tournament ? that”s the way it should be,” Middletown coach Mike Mullin said.
John Hays buried a 3-pointer from the corner with 12 seconds left in regulation to get the Mustangs even at 38-all. Middletown then came up with a big stop on defense in the final seconds.
“They didn”t get a good shot off,” Mullin said.
Willits hit a 3-pointer early in the overtime and led the rest of the way. Middletown, trailing by two, had two chances to knot the score in the final seconds but couldn”t get either shot to fall.
“It was a fun game,” Mullin said. “The fans of both teams were loud, into it.”
Tim Compton”s 19 points paced the Wolverines, who missed a chance to clinch the North regular-season championship on Tuesday when they lost 64-61 to Middletown in Willits. The Mustangs (13-14) move on to the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, which begin early next week. Willits (16-12) will apply for an at-large berth in the 16-team field.
Kyle Harmyk and Bo Sheffer led Middletown with 10 points apiece. John-Wesley Davis added eight and Hays finished with seven.
Odeh Karkar had 16 points for Willits.
