PETALUMA >> The Clear Lake Cardinals went 1-6 in the first half and 5-2 in the second half of their North Central League I schedule, which ended Thursday night with a 52-41 loss against league champion Cloverdale at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.
Now it’s on to the North Coast Section Division V playoffs for coach Scott De Leon’s squad, which could do some real damage depending on how the seedings fall. The section will release the 16-team field on Sunday.
“I think we’ll create some matchup problems for teams,” De Leon said. “But we’ve still got a couple of players banged up (Ryan Smith and Damian Lopez). If we can get them a couple of days rest and get them healthy, we might be able to make it interesting.”
Unlike their first meeting with the Eagles (13-1), Clear Lake gave Cloverdale a pretty good effort this time around. The game was tied 23-all at halftime after the Cardinals’ defense limited the Eagles to only four points in the second quarter — one 3-pointer and a free throw.
“Holding them to four points in a quarter is absolutely amazing,” De Leon said. “Our defense was just tough.”
Cloverdale broke loose in the third quarter, outscoring Clear Lake 16-7.
Smith led the Cardinals with 17 points and Stevie Diaz had nine.
In other NCL I boys’ action Thursday:
Kelseyville 84
St. Helena 50
At St. Helena, the Kelseyville Knights won their 18th game of the season and closed out NCL I play with a victory over the last-place Saints (2-12). Kelseyville (10-4, 18-7) will apply for an at-large berth in the Division IV playoffs. The 16-team field will be announced Sunday.
“I think it’s looking good for us,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “I told the kids we’ve done all we can. I hope they get the chance. They deserve to be in the playoffs.”
Kelseyville last qualified for the Division IV playoffs in 2011-12, going 20-7 that season and losing to eventual section champion Salesian in a first-round game. The Knights have spent the last two seasons rebuilding, going 3-22 in 2012-13 and 13-13 in 2013-14.
Brandon Huber led the Knights with 22 points in their league finale against the Saints. Kyle Ellis (18 points), Victor Fernandez (14 points) and Joe Tannous (10 points) also finished in double figures.
Willits 51
Middletown 44 (OT)
At Middletown, one of Middletown’s toughest seasons in years didn’t end on a high note as the Mustangs fell to the Willits Wolverines in overtime.
The loss left Middletown with a final North Central League I record of 6-8 and a 14-10 overall mark.
Willits (10-4, 20-6) won its 20th game of the season and should make the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs, which begin next week, as an at-large team. The Wolverines, winners of back-to-back NCL I titles in 2013-14, end this year tied with Kelseyville for second place.
Willits hit a shot at the buzzer in regulation tie the score at 39-all and force overtime.
Anthonie Guzman’s 19 points led the Mustangs.
St. Vincent 63
Upper Lake 27
At Petaluma, the Upper Lake Cougars closed out a long season with a loss to the St. Vincent Mustangs, the NCL II runner-up this season behind champion Roseland Prep.
Upper Lake went 2-12 in league and 2-22 overall in coach Justin Dutcher’s first season as head coach.
Ray Gutierrez and Jon Sparks scored nine points apiece for Upper Lake.
Girls
Upper Lake 56
St. Vincent 32
At Petaluma, the Upper Lake Cougars will take a 22-4 overall record into next week’s Division V playoffs after knocking off the St. Vincent Mustangs to close out their NCL II schedule at 12-2, just one game behind champion Sonoma Academy (13-1).
No Upper Lake team has won more games in a single season since the 1993-94 squad went 29-1.
Upper Lake coach Mike Smith, who beat St. Vincent in Petaluma for the first time in his coaching career, said the Cougars are in good shape as they enter postseason play.
“Our goal is to win a playoff game. We’ve put ourselves in a position to do that,” Smith said.
Upper Lake, led by a season-high 25 points from Natalie Karlsson, 12 points from Jojo Augustine and 17 rebounds from Skylar Orozco, ran the private school obstacle course the final week of the season, beating Rincon Valley Christina, Sonoma Academy and St. Vincent on consecutive nights.
“That’s just awesome,” Smith said. “I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”
LaShaye Taylor also had nine points in the win over St. Vincent (9-5).
Kelseyville 51
St. Helena 21
At Kelseyville, the Kelseyville Knights concluded a strong league campaign with a no-stress victory over the winless St. Helena Saints (0-14).
Kelseyville went 10-4 in league in coach Jim Hale’s first season and a majority of his starters return next season.
“I’m very happy with that,” Hale said of the Knights’ season record. “They performed quite well all year. The way the girls have come together is incredible.”
Kelseyville, at 16-9 overall, will apply for an at-large berth in the Division IV playoffs, which begin next week. The Knights will learn their fate on Sunday when the 16-team field is announced.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Hale said of the postseason. “It will be good experience for this young group.”
Riley Goff’s 13 points paced the Knights against the Saints and Alma Perez added 12.
Cloverdale 47
Clear Lake 26
At Cloverdale, hoping to finish .500 in league play, the Clear Lake Cardinals fell to the Cloverdale Eagles with a key piece of their lineup unable to play. Senior Aliza Atkins, the Cardinals’ second-leading scorer on the season, missed the game for medical reasons.
“It’s amazing what you miss when you’re missing her,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said of the senior Atkins. “The biggest thing was our passing.”
Clear Lake didn’t have as much trouble breaking Cloverdale’s press as getting the ball to drop.
“We’d break the press and miss layups. We missed a ton of layups in the first half.”
Taylor Helms led Clear Lake (6-8, 10-15) with 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Fort Bragg 54
Lower Lake 47
At Fort Bragg, the Lower Lake Trojans’ rebuilding season ended with a loss to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Lower Lake (5-8, 11-14) returns its entire roster next season, one that features four freshmen, two sophomores and four juniors.
“We’re really excited,” Lower Lake assistant coach Dave Milano said. “I feel like we should get better next year and even better the year after that.”
It was 45-42 Fort Bragg going to the final period.
Aleia Milano led the Trojans with 15 points.
