LAKE COUNTY >> While two Lake County teams go down to the wire in the North Central League I junior varsity boys’ basketball race, the Clear Lake JV girls stand one game and one win away from a perfect season.
The county’s varsity squads close out the regular season today and a handful will surely advance to next week’s North Coast Section playoffs either in Division IV or Division V. However, tonight is it for the JV teams, who have no postseason awaiting them.
Kelseyville’s and Lower Lake’s JV boys take 10-3 league records into their season finales. Kelseyville has the tougher task as the Knights hit the road to play a St. Helena team that beat them 70-66 last month in Kelseyville. Lower Lake doesn’t have a cakewalk to be sure as the Trojans are home to play a Fort Bragg team they edged 43-40 last month in Fort Bragg.
The Clear Lake JV girls long ago clinched the NCL I championship and their quest tonight is of a different sort … the quest for perfection. The Cardinals take a 13-0 league mark and 25-0 overall record into Cloverdale. In the first league meeting between the two last month in Lakeport, the Cardinals emerged with a 53-45 victory.
If the Cardinals finish 26-0, it will mark the second straight season a JV girls’ team has gone undefeated — Middletown finished 25-0 in 2013-14.
Following is a roundup of Tuesday’s JV games:
Boys
Kelseyville 49
Willits 28
At Kelseyville, Matt Wotherspoon led the Knights with 11 points and Logan Barrick added eight as Kelseyville rolled past the Willits Wolverines.
Win or lose tonight against St. Helena, the Knights have no one to blame but themselves if they fall short against Saints.
“We have it in our own hands,” Facey said. “I know it’s not going to be an easy game. We have to go down there and work hard for the win.”
The Knights went to their bench early and often against Willits and one of the standouts was Jason Snyder with four points and four steals.
“He gave us a boost,” Face said.
Lower Lake 77
Middletown 41
At Middletown, Garrett Chernoh and Marlon Jones scored 16 points apiece as the Lower Lake Trojans tuned up for their final game against Fort Bragg by routing the Middletown Mustangs.
Charles Powell added nine points in the win while Josh Wilson led Middletown with 16 points.
Chernoh sank three 3-pointers.
Clear Lake 62
Fort Bragg 38
At Fort Bragg, the Clear Lake Cardinals improved to 8-5 in league play and 19-6 overall with a lopsided victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Max De Leon led Clear Lake with 19 points, Tanner Hutton added 17 and Ryan Damiata had 12.
Clear Lake hosts Cloverdale in its season finale tonight.
Rincon Valley 66
Upper Lake 36
At Upper Lake, Nathan Sneed scored a team-best 17 points but the Upper Lake Cougars came up short in a NCL II loss to Rincon Valley Christian.
Tim Beffa had 10 points for the Cougars.
Girls
Clear Lake 47
Fort Bragg 17
At Lakeport, Clear Lake’s undefeated JVs closed out their home schedule with an easy win over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Vanessa Hutton led the way with 15 points, Camille Donald chipped in nine, Corin Alakszay had eight and Brooklyn Jenkins seven.
“They play the game hard all the time,” Clear Lake coach Jamie Watkins said. “Even if we don’t win (against Cloverdale), I appreciate what these girls have given me this season. They’re a great group.”
Lower Lake 36
Middletown 32 (OT)
At Lower Lake, Shayna Pike’s 10 points and Elizabeth Ingalls’ 19 rebounds powered the Lower Lake Trojans (9-4) to an overtime win over the Middletown Mustangs (7-6).
