PARADISE >> Back on the court after a seven-day layoff, the Kelseyville Knights dealt Paradise a 65-48 defeat in non-league varsity boys’ basketball action on Wednesday night in Paradise.
While the Knights (9-2) led by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter, they had to battle through an up-and-down first half that saw them score 23 points in the first quarter but only two — on two Nick Pfann free throws — in the second quarter.
“They tightened up their defense and got physical with us and we didn’t deal with that very well,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said.
The Knights, ahead 25-22 at halftime, made a few adjustments and played much better the rest of the way, according to Conrad.
“We did a great job in the second half of controlling the tempo of the game and playing physical defense,” he said.
Two reserves and a starter keyed the team’s second-half resurgence.
“Nate Carpenter and Sambhava Baird come off our bench and they helped us turn the tide,” Conrad said.
Carpenter scored seven points while Baird added four points and seven rebounds.
Pfann, a starter, broke the game wide open with his perimeter shooting in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his team-leading 27 points in the period, including all four of his 3-pointers.
“He was the setup guy for us tonight and he still ended up scoring his points,” Conrad said. “They (Bobcats) forgot about him in the fourth quarter and left him open a few times. The kids did a good job of getting him the ball and he made his shots.”
Kyle Ellis joined Pfann in double figures with 16 points.
Paradise is 5-5 on the season.
In junior varsity action Wednesday, Kelseyville defeated Paradise 52-35 behind 11 points from Vermontay Luia and eight apiece from Adrian Villalobos and Randy Pfann.
Kelseyville pushed its 26-17 halftime lead into double digits early in the third quarter and never looked back.
“We were in control much of the way,” Kelseyville coach Rich Facey said. “The kids moved the ball really well. It was a good effort overall.”
Kelseyville is 7-4 on the season.
