MIDDLETOWN >> A strong finish, including a 43-38 win over the Willits Wolverines on Tuesday in Middletown in the North Central League I finale for both teams, was at least something for Anthony Bazzano to hang his hat on as the Mustangs closed out what was a frustrating season at times.
Bazzano, the head coach of Middletown’s varsity girls basketball squad, said the Mustangs were the victims of their own inconsistency during the 2016-17 campaign, one that ended with Middletown at 5-9 in the league standings and 8-18 overall.
“That was the story of our season,” Bazzano said. “We couldn’t find any level of consistency, not from game to game, week to week or even quarter to quarter.”
Middletown, the two-time defending NCL I champion entering the season albeit a team hard hit by graduation following the 2015-16 campaign, struggled from the outset.
“We had six or seven winnable games, games we flat out let get away from us,” Bazzano said. “I’m not talking about games that we win if we play great, but games that we should have won. We win those six are we’re probably going to the playoffs instead of staying home.”
Middletown did win three of its final four league games to pull even with Willits for fifth place in the final league standings. Abby Aden, one of four Middletown seniors honored before the Willits game on senior night, led the way with 13 points. Two other seniors, Makenzi Smith and Katie Miinch, added nine points apiece as Middletown used an 11-5 fourth quarter to erase a one-point Willits lead entering the final period.
“I’ve been coaching that kid non-stop for 10 years,” Bazzano said of Smith. “She’s like a daughter to me. It was an emotional night.”
Also playing in her final home game for the Mustangs was Isabel Montalvan, who had one of the Mustangs’ three 3-pointers.
Looking ahead to next season, Bazzano said his returning players simply need to “move on” and learn from their mistakes.
“These things are part of the journey you need to learn from and apply to the next chapter in your life,” Bazzano said. “We’ll get back to working hard in the offseason.”
