LAKEPORT — Pulling off one of the more incredible comebacks in the history of the Record-Bee Hoop Classic was the Clear Lake High School varsity boys” basketball team on Saturday night as the 20th edition of the tournament finished with a frenzied flurry of Cardinal points in a 69-65 victory over the Middletown Mustangs in the championship game.
Clear Lake trailed by 19 and looked thoroughly outclassed in the closing minutes of the first half. The Cardinals closed to 13 by halftime and to seven points after three quarters before rallying to take the lead during a 15-4 final period. Danny Partida hit two free throws with seconds remaining to seal the victory and was later named the tournament MVP. Four players from each team scoring in double figures.
It was the first Hoop Classic title for Clear Lake since 2008 and the school”s seventh overall, the most by any team.
Tournament record
One record was tied during the course of the tournament. Marlon Jones of the Lower Lake junior varsity squad made eight 3-pointers, tying the three-game tournament record set by Clear Lake”s Jared Strate in 2012. The four-game record (before Upper Lake dropped out of the tournament) is 15 by Lower Lake”s Jaymen Richardson in 2007.
