MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Mustangs threw their hat in the ring for the North Central League I varsity boys” basketball title race on Tuesday night by throwing the ball in the hoop with accuracy in a 60-35 romp over visiting Fort Bragg.
Middletown shot better than ever from the floor, converting 23 of 41 field goals.
Playing in fits and starts, the Mustangs improved their league record to 2-1 and overall mark to 9-5. The victory kept Middletown on even footing in the early going of a race that is projected to be a tight one between Kelseyville — which has established an early edge by winning its first three league games — Middletown, St. Helena, Clear Lake and Willits.
Center Nick Dellia keyed the win with 21 points, including 10 in the first half and another 10 in the third quarter during which the Mustangs built a 49-33 lead. Point guard Luke Humphrey and forward Blaine Amos also scored in double digits with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
The Mustangs led throughout, opening with a 9-2 run and closing with an 11-2 run while holding the Timberwolves (1-2) to a single field goal in the last quarter. “Overall, I thought it was a good win for the guys,” said coach G.J. Rockwell, who is looking for more consistency from his team.
Rockwell praised Dellia”s performance. “He played well on the boards and was dominant down there in the post,” Rockwell assessed. “He was all over the place. He”s a good, hard worker.”
Also coming in for praise was Amos in his first game back after a serious illness that kept him out of action.
“He was diagnosed with diabetes and he hasn”t been healthy,” Rockwell said. “He lost 32 pounds, but he played good tonight.”
Rockwell is braced for an all-out battle for the NCL I title.
“In this league — 14 games, I think on any given night anybody can beat anybody,” he said. “So you gotta take it one game at a time.”
Middletown hosts St. Helena (2-1) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
