KELSEYVILLE — Dustin Thaxton scored 14 of his team-leading 21 points in the third quarter, hitting four 3-pointers in the period, and the Kelseyville Knights rolled past the Willits Wolverines 70-47 in North Central League I North varsity boys” basketball action on Friday in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville (3-2, 15-7) avenged a 67-63 league-opening loss last month in Willits.
“The defense played an entirely different game this time,” Kelseyville assistant coach Rich Facey said. “A lot of that (scoring) came from the defensive end. We shut them down.”
Kelseyville blew the game open in the middle quarters, outscoring Willits 17-5 in the second quarter and 29-13 in the third.
“The kids are playing with some urgency,” Facey said with an eye toward the airtight NCL I North standings, where the Knights trail Fort Bragg (4-1) by a game. Each team has three games remaining.
Max Huff finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks for Kelseyville and teammate Mike Davis added 16 points, four steals and four assists.
On defense, Oscar Lopez helped bottle up Willits” Odeh Karkar, who finished with only 14 points.
“He stayed with him like glue,” Facey said of Lopez.
Wyatt Sanderson”s 21 points led the Wolverines.
In other boys” action Friday:
Fort Bragg 57, Lower Lake 40
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans kept it close most of the way before the Fort Bragg Timberwolves pulled away in NCL I North action.
“It was a competitive game,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said. “Fort Bragg is pretty tough. They make it hard for you to run your sets. They take that comfort level away from you.”
Jeff Davis led the Trojans (1-4, 5-17) with 13 points and nine rebounds.
“I thought Jeff Davis played an outstanding game,” Udy said. “He played his heart out.”
Cloverdale 83, Clear Lake 51
At Lakeport, in a game dominated by Cloverdale from the opening tip, the South-leading Eagles routed the Clear Lake Cardinals behind 25 points from Beau Gastineau.
“We”re having a problem getting back on defense,” Clear Lake coach Glenn Wienke said. “Cloverdale”s first four baskets were layups.”
Kyle Donald scored 17 points, the only player to reach double figures for Clear Lake (1-4, 7-14).
Girls” basketball
Willits 78, Kelseyville 45
At Willits, the Willits Wolverines remained a game back of Lower Lake in the NCL I North girls” standings with a big win over the Kelseyville Knights, who trailed 49-22 at halftime.
“They”re an aggressive team and fast,” Kelseyville coach Deanna Goff said.
Ashley Johnson scored 17 points to pace the Knights (1-4, 9-11), including three 3-poitners. Morgan Shannon added nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Playing on a sore hamstring, Liz Berry chipped in with 12 rebounds, five assists and three points.
St. Helena 54, Middletown 28
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints kept the full-court pressure on the entire way and beat the Middletown Mustangs in NCL I interlock action.
“We played them earlier this season (losing 57-16) and this game was a total 180,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said. “We played a lot better. We were more mature and handled the pressure a lot better.”
The frustrated Saints were forced to call several timeouts in the first half as the Mustangs stayed within reach, according to Pyzer.
Jodie Mitchell”s 11 points paced Middletown, now 6-15 overall.
Cloverdale 74, Clear Lake 26
At Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Eagles improved to 5-0 in the South standings by routing the Clear Lake Cardinals, who turned the ball over 23 times in the first half alone.
Sisters Jessica and Kim Asbury scored six points apiece for the Cardinals (1-4, 6-11) and Coree Alexander added five.
Cloverdale led 44-15 at halftime.
St. Vincent 57, Upper Lake 40
At Upper Lake, Katherine Edmonds played both post and guard as the Upper Lake Cougars made the St. Vincent Mustangs work hard for their NCL I South win.
Edmonds finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and four steals and Kelsey Pearl added nine points, all on 3-pointers.
“Kelsey Pearl really stepped up again,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said.
St. Vincent led 20-9 after one quarter but Upper Lake (0-5, 3-16) kept the game right around 10 points most of the way, according to Smith.
“Probably the best game we”ve played in a while,” Smith said. “I was happy with our effort.”
