MIDDLETOWN — League champions, again.
Senior guard Luke Humphrey scored 26 points in his final home game of the regular season, including eight 3-pointers, as the Middletown Mustangs clinched a tie for the North Central League I varsity boys” basketball title with a 58-32 victory over the Cloverdale Eagles on Tuesday night in Middletown.
Middletown (11-2 league, 18-6 overall) can wrap up the undisputed championship with a victory Thursday in Lakeport against the Clear Lake Cardinals (5-8, 12-12). The Mustangs have now won eight straight.
With Cloverdale (6-7) packing its defense inside against Middletown, Humphrey often found himself wide open.
“I called a timeout at one point and told them (guards) to go ahead and shoot it from the outside,” Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said.
Middletown busted the game wide open with a 23-12 quarter during which Humphrey sank three treys, giving him seven on the night. He added another in the fourth quarter before the reserves took over.
“He probably could have hit 10 or 12,” Rockwell said. “He was feeling it tonight.”
Humphrey is one of five seniors on the Middletown roster along with Nick Dellia (10 points, 14 rebounds), Scott Velarde (seven points), Tanner Alves (three points, eight rebounds) and D.J. Brookshire (one point, seven rebounds).
“They all did a good job tonight,” Rockwell said. “Dellia was a beast. He played extremely well.”
Middletown shared the NCL I North title with Fort Bragg last season in Rockwell”s rookie campaign.
In other boys” action Tuesday:
Kelseyville 66, Clear Lake 61
At Lakeport, Dustin Thaxton buried a wide-open 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to snap a 61-all tie and the Kelseyville Knights rallied to beat Clear Lake, their first win in three tries against the Cardinals this season.
While the Knights (10-3, 19-6) led 36-35 at halftime, they trailed 51-44 entering the final period.
“We just lost focus and I thought, ”Here we go again,”” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said of the Knights” sluggish play during a 16-8 third quarter that favored Clear Lake. “But we didn”t quit, we reacted the right way.”
After Thaxton”s fourth 3-pointer of the night put Kelseyville ahead, Clear Lake”s Kyle Donald (23 points) missed a shot and Mark MacDonald came down with the defensive rebound. He passed the ball to Oscar Lopez, who was fouled and made both of his free throws with two seconds left.
“He had seven rebounds, five offensive,” Conrad said of MacDonald. “He had a great game.”
Max Huff scored 16 of his team-leading 20 points in the first half for Kelseyville. He also led the Knights with 16 rebounds. Wyatt Ferrell finished with 13 points and six assists and Devon Call added 11 points.
Donald was one of four Cardinals to score in double figures. Steven Edwards had 13 points, Danny Partida 11 and Adrian Perez 10.
“Donald hit some incredibly tough shots,” Conrad said. “That kid made some phenomenal shots.”
Lower Lake 47, Willits 36
At Lower Lake, a 19-3 fourth quarter against the Willits Wolverines propelled the Lower Lake Trojans to their third win in five games.
Down 14-5 after one quarter, the Trojans (3-10, 3-20) began to close the gap in the second period.
“I was happy to be down by only six at halftime,” Lower Lake coach David Graham said. “After that second quarter they started getting some confidence and at halftime they told me they were going to win the game. That”s what I wanted to hear. That”s what I”ve been waiting to hear all season.”
Jesse Meldrum scored eight of his team-leading 17 points in the second quarter to spark Lower Lake”s comeback while Richard Tucker had 10 of his 14 during a go-ahead fourth quarter.
“We outrebounded them 41-20, which was big,” Graham said.
Jeff Davis led the Trojans with 12 rebounds and Stephan Greathouse had eight boards.
“We”re playing a lot better,” Graham added.
