WILLITS >> Calling it his team’s most important game of the season … well, at least until Friday … Middletown High School varsity girls’ basketball coach Anthony Bazzano watched his Mustangs win their sixth straight on Tuesday night with a 49-32 victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves at Middletown High School.
Tackling opponents one at a time, no how matter good or bad, is a Bazzano rule and he insists it helps his players maintain focus on the task at hand. One player who certainly had plenty of focus against the Timberwolves was senior center Ashlyn Welton, who scored a season-high 34 points that were accompanied by 13 rebounds and five steals.
Middletown is now 5-0 in league and 13-4 overall and the Mustangs travel to Kelseyville on Friday to play the 5-0 and 14-3 Knights.
“We played good defense all night but we were sloppy with the basketball,” Bazzano said. “We weren’t crisp with our ball movement and we never got into a rhythm.”
Emily Lescher had six points for the Mustangs while Makenzi Smith had 10 rebounds and a team-high 11 assists to go along with her four points.
The win was Middletown’s 16th straight in North Central League I competition dating back to last season. The last time the Mustangs lost in league play — their only loss during a 13-1 run to the league title a year ago — was a 49-42 setback at Kelseyville on Jan. 13, 2015.
Welton continues to rise up the career scoring leader chart in Lake County and now ranks 23rd with 1,112 points. Middletown’s school record is 1,230.
In other girls’ action Tuesday:
Willits 43, Lower Lake 36
At Willits, ice cold from the field, the Lower Lake Trojans were upset by the Willits Wolverines in NCL I action. Both teams are now 2-3 in the standings.
Lower Lake led 10-4 after the first quarter but struggled the rest of the game.
“Willits came out in their press and trap and we beat that,” Lower Lake coach Bryce Brin said. “But they stopped playing it after that and we couldn’t hit a shot.”
The Trojans, now 10-7 on the season, went just 1-for-22 from 3-point range and 9-for-26 on two-point attempts. They did sink 15 free throws.
While the Lower Lake offense struggled, Shayna Pike had a big game on defense, blocking 14 shots and pulling down 17 rebounds.
“She had a monster of a game, it’s just too bad our offense wasn’t there,” Brin said.
Aleia Milano’s 11 points paced the Trojans and Samantha Caires had nine.
Boys’ basketball
Fort Bragg 70, M’town 35
At Fort Bragg, the Middletown Mustangs couldn’t hand the Fort Bragg Timberwolves (5-0) their first loss in league play.
Middletown (1-4, 5-7) trailed 37-14 at halftime.
“Give all the credit to them,” Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said of the Timberwolves. “They played great defense and they are patient on offense.”
Rockwell said one advantage the Timberwolves hold over other teams is their pressure man-to-man defense.
“I know a lot of our county schools play zone, so I think it’s a little bit of shellshock when you face them,” Rockwell said.
Jake Rivera’s 13 points paced Middletown.
Son. Academy 53, Upper Lake
At Santa Rosa, hurting for enough healthy/eligible players, the Upper Lake Cougars promoted J.T. Claunch from the JV ranks prior to their NCL II game against the Sonoma Academy, which the Coyotes went on to win with ease.
Upper Lake (3-1, 10-5) suited up just seven even with Claunch’s presence and trailed 17-7 after one quarter.
Shooting 5-for-20 from the free-throw line didn’t help either, according to Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher.
“That’s not going to cut it,” Dutcher said. “If you can’t score, you can’t win.”
Chase Goetjen’s seven points led the Cougars.
