MIDDLETOWN >> One of the few remaining hurdles in Middletown High School’s quest for a North Central League I championship proved to be no big deal on Tuesday night as the Mustangs overwhelmed the Cloverdale Eagles 49-34 in varsity girls’ action at Middletown.
Middletown (10-1 league, 17-6 overall) has three games remaining — all on the road — and needs one more win to secure no worse than a co-championship. It was only fitting that the victory over Cloverdale, last year’s league champ, moved the Mustangs to the brink of a title.
Emotions also were running high on Tuesday for senior night as the Mustangs honored their two captains, Nicole Corsetti and Katie Depp, prior to the opening tip-off.
“They’re nice little ballplayers, great human beings and excellent teammates,” Middletown coach Anthony Bazzano said of Corsetti and Depp.
The Mustangs, winners of eight straight, can clinch a share of first on Thursday when they travel to Lakeport to play Clear Lake (6-5).
After a slow start against Cloverdale — Middletown led just 5-4 after one quarter — the Mustang offense shifted into overdrive while the team’s defense shut out the Eagles in the third quarter.
“We turned it on in the second quarter and our offense was just fine after that,” Bazzano said. “On defense we got our hands on just about everything in the passing lanes. We also stopped the high-post offense they like to run.”
Ashlyn Welton powered Middletown with 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Makenzi Smith, a perimeter player, added 10 points, including two 3-pointers, to go along with six rebounds and three assists. And Corsetti did her usual good job, according to Bazzano, with seven points, nine rebounds and three steals.
Middletown’s winning streak is coming at the perfect time, according to Bazzano.
“We’re feeling like we’re in a pretty good place right now,” Bazzano said. “The girls are playing great basketball.”
In other girls’ action Tuesday:
Roseland Prep 48
Upper Lake 34
At Santa Rosa, the Upper Lake Cougars (8-2, 18-4) can probably forget about winning a NCL II championship this season after being upset by Roseland Prep.
Minus starters Jojo Augustine and Skylar Orozco, both out for violating school rules, the Cougars managed to hold their own for a half — they led 26-24 — before falling apart in the third quarter following a barrage of four Roseland Prep 3-pointers.
“It’s a tough one to swallow,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said. “I’m pretty frustrated.”
Roseland Prep went on to outscore Upper Lake 16-6 in the third quarter and 24-8 in the second half.
“We’ve got to bounce back,” Smith said. “Maybe we’re not going to win league, but we can still get our 20-plus wins and maybe win a playoff game.”
Winning the league title and 20 or more games this season were both team goals although the former was Upper Lake’s main objective.
Smith said he didn’t know if Augustine and Orozco would be able to suit up for Friday’s home game against Calistoga.
Natalie Karlsson led the Cougars with 14 points and Autum Martinez added 10.
Lower Lake 57
Willits 36
At Willits, two teams playing out the string as far as the NCL I race is concerned squared off at Willits High School where the young Trojans won big, giving them four victories in their last five league games.
Lower Lake (5-6, 11-12) was led by 16 points from Katelyn Ferrell and another 11 from Sammi Caires.
“We started four guards because they (Wolverines) like to press and it really helped. We had girls out there who could handle the ball,” Lower Lake assistant coach Dave Milano said.
The game was tied at 13 after one quarter. Lower Lake pulled ahead in the second quarter and put the game away with a 15-6 third period that made it 41-26 in the Trojans’ favor.
“We missed a lot of shots early, but once the girls settled in, we kind of cruised,” Milano said.
Vanessa John had nine points for the Trojans and Aleia Milano had six.
Willits fell to 5-6.
Boys
Willits 56
Lower Lake 45
At Lower Lake, not even a home game could halt Lower Lake’s slide south in the NCL I standings as the Trojans fell to the Willits Wolveriens (8-3). The Trojans (4-7, 10-13) dropped their third straight in league play despite 13 points and four 3-pointers from Dustin Martin and 11 points from Hokulani Wickard.
“To be honest it was one of those games where the team I was watching in the first half wasn’t the same one I’ve been coaching the last three months,” Lower Lake coach Tim Biasotti said. “We came out with no energy and there wasn’t much of an effort.”
Willits led 19-8 after one quarter and 38-15 at halftime.
“I told them at halftime we need to play like a team and give the effort and have the right attitude every game,” Biasotti said.
The Trojans responded, getting as close as four points before Willits’ Anthony Sorace (20 points) buried a pair of 3-pointers — he had six treys on the night — to put the Wolverines comfortably in front.
“I’m proud of the boys for not quitting,” Biasotti said.
Cloverdale 61
Middletown 42
At Middletown, the Cloverdale Eagles avenged their only league loss by beating the Middletown Mustangs.
Cloverdale (10-1) continues to lead Willits by two games in the league standings with three remaining for both teams. The loss officially eliminated Middletown (5-6, 13-8) from the league race.
“We tried everything to slow them down … press, man-to-man. We tried it all and it didn’t matter. We just ran into a better team tonight,” Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said.
Anthonie Guzman and Cody Chorjel paced the Mustangs with 12 points apiece.
Cloverdale struck early and led 17-6 after one quarter.
“That first quarter killed us,” Rockwell said.
The Eagles hit five 3-pointers in the first half, three of them in the opening period.
Middletown got as close as nine points in the second quarter before Cloverdale went on a run to push its lead back into double figures. It was 34-19 at halftime.
John McMillan’s 18 points powered the Eagles.
Middletown beat Cloverdale 41-35 on Jan. 16 at Middletown.
Roseland Prep 63
Upper Lake 26
At Santa Rosa, Upper Lake’s bid for a second straight win didn’t come close as the Cougars (1-9, 1-19) fell to Roseland Prep in NCL II action.
Upper Lake was coming off its first win of the season — that after 18 straight losses — last Friday against Technology.
Pancho Flores’ 10 points led the Cougars, who trailed 25-8 after the opening period.
“We just couldn’t keep up with them,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said.
The Cougars return home Friday against a Calistoga squad that has lost several starters from the first meeting this season between the two teams. Calistoga won that game 47-37.
