MIDDLETOWN >> Two days after being knocked out of the league race by Kelseyville, the Clear Lake Cardinals simply got knocked out.
Middletown’s Mustangs did the honor this time, delivering a 56-48 left hook to the Cardinals in a North Central League I junior varsity boys’ basketball game on Thursday night in Middletown.
Ricardo Chaires led Middletown with 15 points and Beckett Hoage added 12 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter from the free-throw line where he was 8-for-10. Josh Wilson also had seven points.
With a young roster than hasn’t been healthy most of the season, the Mustangs were long ago eliminated from the NCL I race but have continued working hard in practice, according to coach Jon Hoogendoorn.
“This is the one we’ve been waiting for all season,” Hoogendoorn said of the upset of Clear Lake. “But we’re just playing for pride now as far as the league race goes.”
Clear Lake did its best to help out Middletown, shooting just 11-for-62 from the field.
“Worst shooting night we’ve had,” Clear Lake coach Phil Psalmonds said of the Cardinals’ tough night from the field. “We couldn’t hit anything.”
Ryan Damiata led Clear Lake (7-5) with 17 points and 24 rebounds.
In other JV action Thursday:
Clear Lake 63
Middletown 38
At Lakeport, freshman guard Valerie Hutton poured in 29 points, including three 3-pointers, and the Clear Lake JV girls improved to 10-0 in league and 24-0 overall with an easy win over the Mustangs, who went undefeated in league play last season while posting a 25-0 final record.
The Cardinals are now just two games and two wins away from a 26-0 mark. They play their final home game Tuesday against Fort Bragg before hitting the road Thursday in their season finale at Cloverdale.
“It’s exciting,” Clear Lake coach Jamie Watkins said of her team’s bid for perfection. “The girls are playing so well.”
Camille Donald added 13 points and Corin Alakszay had 10 in the win.
Amy Gattoni’s 10 points paced Middletown (7-5) and Callie Wilson had eight.
