WILLITS >> Coming off a tough 56-54 loss to Lower Lake a night earlier, the Kelseyville Knights rebounded nicely with a 60-37 North Central League I win on Saturday in Willits in varsity girls basketball action.
Kelseyville (3-1 league, 14-2 overall) was making up a game originally scheduled for Jan. 10 that was postponed because of a major winter storm pushing through the area.
“We talked about getting off to a good start before the game and that’s what we did,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said of the Knights’ 20-point first quarter.
The Knights kept adding to their lead and were up 54-29 entering the final period.
“They play a similar style of basketball,” Hale said of the Wolverines, who suit up only eight players, nearly all of them seniors. “They play full-court, man-to-man pressure.”
Kelseyville played that similar style better in this, the first of two league meetings between the two teams.
“We set the tone after the loss a night before,” Hale said. “That was important for us to do. It was a pretty fast-paced game.”
Payton Conrad led the way with 21 points, including four 3-pointers, while Alma Perez added 16 points with three 3-pointers.
Hale said he also received quality minutes at the post position from reserves Grace Davidson and Bib Hamner.
“We had 41 rebounds,” Hale said. “We rebounded the ball pretty well.”
Davidson also scored seven points.
Kelseyville traveled to Clear Lake on Tuesday and is on the road Friday to battle Middletown. The Knights began the week a half-game behind co-leaders Clear Lake and Lower Lake, both 3-0.
