LAKEPORT >> Off to their best start in North Central League I play in years, the Fort Bragg High School varsity boys’ basketball team beat the Clear Lake Cardinals 74-61 on Friday night in Lakeport to remain undefeated at 4-0.
The Timberwolves served notice early on they meant business, outscoring the Cardinals 25-9 in the opening quarter.
A win by Clear Lake (2-2 league, 10-6 overall) would have created a four-team logjam atop the league standings, but the Cardinals couldn’t match Fort Bragg’s firepower, especially with starting guard Stevie Diaz out of the lineup with an ankle sprain.
“Cameron Borg did a nice job of filling in for him, but not having Stevie in there had us out of rhythm, especially in that first quarter,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said. “Fort Bragg plays tough man-to-man pressure defense.”
Fort Bragg had a 45-26 lead by halftime.
“We just dug ourselves too big a hole in that first quarter,” De Leon said.
Tanner Hutton’s 15 points led the Cardinals and Bryce Richardson and Josh Damiata each had 10.
Clear Lake won the junior varsity game 73-50.
