MIDDLETOWN >> Two straight Record-Bee Hoop Classic championships and four in five years.
Yep, it’s probably fair to say the Clear Lake High School junior varsity boys’ basketball team doesn’t mind the challenge of going up against its county opponents in this annual round-robin tournament, which completed its 22nd run on Saturday at Middletown High School.
Clear Lake defeated Lower Lake 50-31 in final-round action Saturday to complete a 3-0 sweep and collect its third tournament title this month. The Cardinals are 10-0 on the season under head coach Phil Psalmonds, who had 11 players break into the scoring column against the Trojans. Austin Davis led the way with 11 points.
The Cardinals’ incredible depth allows them to substitute fresh legs on the course throughout the course of any game. They did it against Lower Lake and while the Trojans were able to hang tough into the third quarter when they pulled as closed as seven points, the outcome of this one was never in question. Clear Lake had a 37-24 lead by quarter’s end and quickly pushed that to a 21-point advantage early in the final period.
Angel Jauregui, Darian James and Taylor Scott led the Trojans with six points apiece. T.J. Marcks and Tanner Cole had six points each for the Cardinals.
Clear Lake freshman point guard Brady McGuire was named tournament MVP and and joined teammates Davis and Marcks on the All-Tournament team, which included Lower Lake’s Jermaine Watson.
K’ville 58, M’town 47
In a battle for second place, the Kelseyville Knights jumped out to a 15-2 lead and never looked back against Middletown.
The Mustangs were able to close to 33-24 by halftime but the Knights led by double figures throughout most of the second half.
Scott Sanchez and Randy Pfann scored 14 points apiece to power the Knights and were named to the All-Tournament team along with sixth-man award winner Vermontay Luia. Colton Hall’s 10 points paced the Mustangs and Isaiah Moore had seven. Hall and teammate Trey O’Neill received All-Tourney honors.
