KELSEYVILLE >> If you”re looking for an easy game in the North Central League I this season, it”s not going to happen against the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Three days after pushing the Middletown Mustangs to the limit in the league opener for both teams, the young and hungry Timberwolves gave Kelseyville a pretty good scare for the better part of three quarters although the host Knights pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 65-48 victory.
“If you relax on them, they keep coming at you,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “They don”t stop coming.”
Brandon Huber and Victor Fernandez shared scoring honors for the Knights (1-1 league, 8-4 overall) with 16 points and Kyle Ellis added 13 points. Nick Pfann finished with seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
Kelseyville led 33-28 at halftime.
In other boys” basketball action Friday:
St. Helena 47
Middletown 41
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints surprised the Middletown Mustangs in NCL I action. Middletown (1-1, 7-3) tried to rally in the fourth quarter but couldn”t catch the Saints (1-1).
Cody Chorjel”s 18 points paced the Mustangs and Von Self had nine, all on 3-pointers.
Technology 59
Upper Lake 53
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars (0-2, 0-12) are still searching for their first win of the season after falling to Technology of Rohnert Park in NCL II action.
Upper Lake rallied to tie the game on a Chris Scott 3-pointer after trailing by 12 points in the fourth quarter. Tech answered with its own 3-pointer and never looked back.
Cody Rybolt led the Cougars with 12 points.
“In the second half of the game we took a big step forward,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said.
Girls
Clear Lake 59
Lower Lake 50
At Lakeport, Taylor Helms went off for 24 points and the Clear Lake Cardinals knocked off the Lower Lake Trojans in NCL I action. Both teams are now 1-1 in the league standings.
Clear Lake, ahead 27-11 late in the first half before Lower Lake closed the gap, improved to 6-8 overall while the Trojans fell to 7-7.
The Trojans trailed by just two points — 42-40 — entering the fourth quarter and it remained a close game until the final minutes. The Cardinals preserved their lead at the free-throw line where they were 13-for-17 on the night compared to Lower Lake”s 2-for-9.
Jasmine Rice had 14 points for the Cardinals and Aliza Atkins added 11.
“Jasmine and Aliza stepped up,” Clear Lake coack Kory Reynolds said. “It”s one thing getting 24 from Taylor, but with those two stepping up, it makes it a lot easier.”
Aleia Milano”s 15 points paced the Trojans.
Kelseyville 51
Fort Bragg 43
At Fort Bragg, the Kelseyville Knights made sure their long trip to the Mendocino County coast wasn”t wasted as they beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Riley Goff led the way with 24 points as the Knights squared their NCL I mark at 1-1 while improving to 7-5 overall.
Kelseyville took a 37-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We stayed very poised,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said of his team”s play down the stretch. “We started making good choices with the basketball.”
Alma Perez had 10 points for the Knights, who improved to 1-1 in league and 7-5 overall.
Middletown 56
St. Helena 14
At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs breezed past the St. Helena Saints (0-2) in NCL I action, upping their league record to 2-0 and their overall mark to 9-5.
Ashlyn Welton powered Middletown with another strong performance. She just missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Nicole Corsetti also came up big with eight points, seven rebounds and four steals.
“Like I”ve said before, she”s just all over the place,” Middletown coach Anthony Bazzano said of Corsetti. “Absolutely all over the place.”
Middletown led 13-0 after one quarter.
“We put four quarters together for the first time in a long time,” Bazzano said. “We needed this game because we”ve been in a bit of a funk. Defensively were were stifling.”
Abby Aden had seven points for the Mustangs and both Kaleigh Alves and Jess De Silva had six.
