MIDDLETOWN >> Jeffrey Morris calmly sank both ends of a one-and-one with two seconds remaining to ice Middletown’s 46-43 non-league varsity boys basketball victory over the El Molino Lions on Tuesday night in Middletown.
It was an uneven performance by the Mustangs (5-2) but it also was a win and head coach G.J. Rockwell said he’ll take it. “That’s the bottom line,” Rockwell said.
Middletown gave every indication that a close game wasn’t in the works after building a 19-8 lead in the first quarter.
“We came out of the gates and looked really good,” Rockwell said. “But in the second and third quarters it was a tale of two teams. We got away from our offenses, really struggled. Then we settled down in the fourth quarter and did what we were supposed to do.”
Middletown led 32-28 entering the final period.
“We’re still trying to find out way, flow, rotations,” Rockwell said of the Mustangs, half of whom got off to a late start because of Middletown’s participation in the sectional playoffs in football. “Our football guys have had four practices and four games. We’re forcing things right now but we’ll get there.”
Morris finished with a team-leading 13 points and Trey O’Neill added 12.
“He (Morris) played really well and O’Neill played well too,” Rockwell said.
Sam Cervantes added seven points and Andres Cervantes six more.
Middletown plays Forest Hill on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Stokes Tournament at Kelseyville High School.
In junior varsity action Tuesday, Middletown defeated El Molino 50-45 despite having a player ejected for allegedly throwing a punch. Will Aiden led the way with 14 points and Will Chastain added 13 as the Mustangs squared their season record at 2-2. Jorge Fonseca chipped in with six points and Tanner Pachie had five.
Middletown is scheduled to host Oakland Military Institute in a JV game only on Friday at 5 p.m. although coach Jon Hoogendoorn said that game may be canceled.
