LOWER LAKE >> A North Central League I championship is what the Middletown Mustangs won on Tuesday night with a 73-40 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans, but it’s not the final destination for coach Anthony Bazzano’s squad.
If Bazzano gets his way, Middletown’s season will include a playoff win or two or three in the North Coast Section Division IV tournament before the Mustangs turn the page on the 2014-15 campaign.
“Winning a league title was one of our goals before the season began, but not our only goal,” Bazzano said as the Mustangs, who clinched a tie for league title on Thursday with a road win over Clear Lake, wrapped up the undisputed championship against Lower Lake.
“They’re not easy to win,” Bazzano said. “Fourteen games packed into two months, long road trips and rowdy fans in small gyms. It’s not easy to do.”
Middletown (12-1) also improved to 19-6 overall, which means the team can top last season’s 19-win total with a victory on Thursday in the Mustangs’ league and regular-season finale at Willits. After that, it’s on to the Division IV playoffs next week. Middletown will find out on Sunday where it has been seeded in the 16-team field and who it will play in its first game, which should be in Middletown.
With Lower Lake (5-8, 11-14) double- and even triple-teaming Middletown center Ashlyn Welton, the Mustangs simply worked the ball to the open player and there were a lot of them. Makenzi Smith led the team with 13 points and Abby Aden had 11. Five other players had six or more points including Welton, who finished with nine. She also had 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
“We shared the ball and had 24 assists as a team,” Bazzano said. “If they’re going to double- and triple-team her (Welton), we don’t mind playing 4-on-3 and 4-on-2 basketball.”
Middletown won with out senior guard and team captain Nicole Corsetti, who was on a college trip.
“Playing without her and on the road we didn’t know what to expect, but we came out and played a great first quarter and cruised the rest of the way. We were in a good place after that first quarter.”
Middletown outscored Lower Lake 26-4 in the opening period.
Ashlynn Mock led the Trojans with 13 points and Gabby Jauregui had 10.
“Coach (Dave) Milano is doing a great job with that Lower Lake team,” Bazzano said. “They have a lot of good, young players.”
In other NCL I girls’ action Tuesday:
Willits 49
Kelseyville 36
At Willits, Willits upset the Kelseyville Knights in NCL I action, using a 15-6 second quarter to open up a 23-18 halftime lead. The Wolverines pulled away with a 13-4 fourth quarter.
“It was very physical and intense,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said of the game. “But we gave as good as we got. They (Wolverines) were able to break down our defense with dribble penetration.”
Kelseyville (9-4, 15-9) also never got going on offense.
“No one girl could get going,” Hale said.
Alma Perez led the Knights with nine points and Heidy Cano had seven.
Kelseyville hosts winless St. Helena in the league finale for both teams on Thursday.
Fort Bragg 49
Clear Lake 42
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals were outscored 13-4 in the third quarter and fell to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in NCL I action.
Clear Lake is now 6-7 in league play and 10-14 overall. Fort Bragg improved to 5-8 in league.
“They just wanted it more than we did,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said of the Timberwolves. “They played real well. Our turnovers were up and our rebounds were down and you can’t win like that.”
Taylor Helms led the Cardinals with 15 points and Aliza Atkins had nine.
Reynolds said Clear Lake will apply for an at-large playoff berth with a win Thursday in Cloverdale, the league finale for both teams.
Boys
Lower Lake 58
Middletown 55 (OT)
At Middletown, after blowing a five-point lead late in regulation, the Lower Lake Trojans beat the Middletown Mustangs in overtime to sweep their two NCL I meetings this season. Lower Lake won 54-51 when the teams last met on Jan. 23 in Lower Lake.
“We did control it in the overtime, which was nice,” Lower Lake coach Tim Biasotti said.
Middletown’s Anthonie Guzman buried a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the fourth quarter to knot the score at 50. Lower Lake’s Hokulani Wickard had a two-point shot rattle in and out at the buzzer.
Wickard, a freshman, scored a season-high 22 points with four 3-pointers to power the Trojans (5-8, 11-14), who snapped a four-game league skid.
“He doesn’t play like a freshman,” Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said.
Jerod Alexander added 15 points to Lower Lake’s cause.
Guzman’s 16 points and Von Self’s 14 powered the Mustangs (6-7, 14-9).
Clear Lake 66
Fort Bragg 61
At Fort Bragg, the Clear Lake Cardinals jumped back into the win column, scoring 27 third-quarter points to wipe out a 38-26 Fort Bragg lead at halftime.
Clear Lake (6-7, 11-15) has won five of its last six in league play.
After shooting 10-for-33 from the field in the first half, Clear Lake went off in the third quarter, making 12 of 16 shots. Jared Strate scored 10 of his team-leading 21 points in the period, including two 3-pointers, and Stevie Diaz had eight of 17 in the quarter.
“I didn’t jump up and down at halftime,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said. “I just reminded them of the things we do well, the things we’ve done well the second half of the season. We started attacking their zone and kicking the ball out to the open guy.”
Ryan Smith scored 13 points and Damian Lopez had 10, six of those in the third quarter, for Clear Lake. Strate finished with five 3-pointers.
Clear Lake hosts league champion Cloverdale on Thursday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Rincon Valley 54
Upper Lake 26
At Upper Lake, Rincon Valley Christian beat the Upper Lake Cougars in NCL II action. The Eagles led 25-8 after one quarter and never looked back.
Pancho Flores led Upper Lake (2-10, 2-20) with nine points and Cody Rybolt added six.
