MIDDLETOWN >> Though they gave it a pretty good shot, the Middletown Mustangs simply couldn”t overcome a 21-4 first- quarter deficit against powerhouse Salesian.
The same Salesian team that beat Middletown 61-17 in the opening round of last year”s sectional playoffs parlayed that big opening period into a 60-44 non-league varsity girls” basketball win on Tuesday night in Middletown, spoiling the Mustangs” season opener.
“The girls came out wound up like a golf ball,” Middletown coach Anthony Bazzano said. “Salesian is lightning fast and we got overwhelmed in the first eight minutes. We settled down after that and it was a battle.”
Middletown (0-1) outscored Salesian 40-39 the rest of the way.
“I”m proud of the way they played the last three quarters,” Bazzano said. “We didn”t get caught up in feeling sorry for ourselves. We played hard.”
Ashlyn Welton and Abby Aden powered the Mustangs with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Welton also had seven rebounds and three steals while Aden contributed six boards and two steals.
“Both of them had big games,” Bazzano said.
Middletown returns to action Thursday against San Rafael in the first round of the Maria Carrillo Tournament in Santa Rosa. Tip-off is 4:30 p.m.
In junior varsity action, Callie Wilson scored eight points and Brenna Southern and Isabelle Montalvan added six apiece to lead Middletown to a 29-26 win.
Middletown coach Roxi Hoogenendoorn said the Mustangs (1-0) played well in spurts. Her young squad of six freshmen and three sophomores has only one returning player.
“They”re working hard for me,” Hoogendoorn said. “This was definitely a big win for us.”
In other girls” action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 48, Roseland 30
At Lakeport, even with Aliza Atkins in foul trouble early on, the Clear Lake Cardinals built a 29-11 first-half lead en route to a lopsided victory over Roseland Prep.
“Overall for a first game they did OK,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said. “We played really good together and that was the best thing to come out of the game. It was a team effort.”
Taylor Helms led a balanced Clear Lake attack with 13 points. Courtney Hiatt added 12 more and Atkins finished with 10.
Clear Lake (1-0) returns to action Thursday at 3 p.m. against Durham in the opening round of the Colusa Tournament.
The Cardinals also won the junior varsity game on Tuesday as Valerie Hutton scored 19 points in a 61-11 victory over Roseland Prep. Camille Donald chipped in with 10 points and Corin Alakszay had seven. All 11 Clear Lake players scored in the season opener.
“It was a good game, I am really impressed with the freshmen,” Clear Lake coach Jamie Watkins said.
Ten of Clear Lake”s 11 players are ninth-graders.
Clear Lake plays Wheatland on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Colusa Tournament.
