MIDDLETOWN >> Although Middletown’s Mustangs have had only limited success against the top teams in the North Central League I this season, they did the next best thing on Thursday night by beating Clear Lake, a team that has had recent success in knocking off some of the league’s frontrunners — namely Willits and Kelseyville.
It was, said Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell, a good outing for the Mustangs, who suffered from the frustration of losing back-to-back games against title contenders Kelseyville and Cloverdale.
“When you’re frustrated nothing makes you feel better than coming out real aggressively,” Rockwell said.
Which is exactly what the Mustangs (6-6 league, 14-8 overall) did in subduing Clear Lake (5-7, 10-13) from the beginning by alternating fast break with half-court pattern basketball.
“We wanted to try something new on offense, because we needed a change” Rockwell added. “We wanted to switch the momentum a little on offense and get that rhythm back … and it worked.”
Indeed. But what also worked for Middletown was the dead-eye marksmanship of Von Self, who led the team in scoring with 26 points — 18 of them on 3-pointers and 16 of them in the first half while the Mustangs built a 34-18 lead with a 14-3 run.
Ironically, Self’s uniform number is 3. His teammates might want to think in terms of three being a nickname for him.
“He’s never had a game like that,” said Rockwell.
The Mustangs’ leading scorer for the season, Cody Chorjel, backed Self with 14 points, accumulated mostly through the intense in-fighting in the battle for rebounds.
Jared Strate had four treys and 18 points to lead the Cardinals, who entered play winners of four in a row and five of six. Stevie Diaz added 11 points.
But the way Cardinal coach Scott De Leon figures it, his team participated in its own destruction.
“I don’t know what we did at the free-throw line tonight, but it was not good,” said De Leon.
The Cards were 3-for-11 from the stripe.
With two games left for everyone in the league season, Thursday night’s outcome may and may not have any effect on who advances to postseason competition.
De Leon is anticipating a berth in Division V.
“If my guys want to play I’m not going to pass,” said Rockwell, who may get in only if four teams from the NCL I are selected in the Division IV playoffs.
Rockwell praised his team.
“It takes some pretty good character to come back the way they did,” he said.
