MIDDLETOWN >> In a North Central League I varsity girls” basketball race all tied up in knots through the first two weeks of the season, two of the four teams sharing first place going into Tuesday”s round of games squared off at Middletown High School.
Middletown emerged with a 52-34 victory over the Clear Lake Cardinals to remain atop the league standings. Ashlyn Welton led the way for the Mustangs (4-1, 11-6) with 14 points and point guard Miah Bazzano added a season-best 11, including three 3-pointers.
A low-scoring first half — Middletown led 19-11 at halftime — gave way to a more energetic display of basketball during the final two quarters, according to Middletown assistant coach Roxi Hoogendoorn, who was filling in for head coach Anthony Bazzano (away on a business trip).
“We played much better in the second half,” Hoogendoorn said.
All 11 of Bazzano”s points came in the final two quarters, and she sank all of her 3-pointers during Middletown”s big 18-point fourth period.
For Clear Lake (3-2, 8-9), Aliza Atkins led the way with 17 points, including three 3-pointers of her own. Taylor Helms had eight points with two treys.
“We didn”t have a good shooting first half and it didn”t get any better in the second half,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said. “That and they (Mustangs) killed us on the boards.”
