KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights were on the verge of handing the Piedmont Highlanders their first loss of the season … until they weren’t.
“We were in control of that game for three quarters,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said of a 57-53 loss to Piedmont in the boys championship game of the 46th annual Stokes Basketball Tournament on Saturday night at Kelseyville High School. “It just got away from us in the fourth quarter.”
Piedmont (11-0) outscored Kelseyville 19-7 in the final period to wipe out a 46-38 deficit through three quarters.
“We had a 10-point lead late in the third quarter,” Conrad said.
Kelseyville’s inability to hold the lead down the stretch was a combination of different things, according to Conrad.
“We didn’t have many turnovers during the game but we had two in the fourth quarter that were big,” he said. “We made a couple of bad shot selection choices, and we had two free throws wiped out by lane violations. We also missed a breakaway layup. If we avoid doing any of those things, it might have been a different outcome. It was not meant to be I guess. It was kind of a tough pill for us to swallow to be sure.”
Kelseyville (5-2) received 18 points from All-Tournament selection Trey Conrad and another 11 from All-Tourney pick Adrian Villalobos. Randy Pfann added eight points.
“Randy Pfann played some of the best basketball I’ve seen him play our last two games against Piedmont and Elsie Allen,” Conrad said.
Kelseyville travels to El Molino on Tuesday and returns home Thursday to play Maria Carrillo.
In other Stokes final-round games Saturday:
Third place
Elsie Allen 44, M’town 38
Minus four players because of injury and vacation, the Middletown Mustangs ran out of fresh legs down the stretch against the Elsie Allen Lobos in the Stokes third-place game.
“We missed five free throws in the fourth quarter and I think part of that was we just didn’t have the legs under us,” Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said. “The kids played hard and tough, but with four guys missing we were just outgunned.”
All-Tournament selection Thomas Cook led the Mustangs (6-4) with 11 points, Jimmy Rockwell added nine, all on 3-pointers, Jeffrey Morris had eight and Trey O’Neill seven.
The Mustangs host Sonoma Valley on Saturday. Junior varsity action tips off at 4 p.m.
Consolation title
Lower Lake 65, Upper Lake 46
The Lower Lake Trojans ran away from the Upper Lake Cougars to win the Stokes consolation championship.
All-Tournament selection Hokulani Wickard scored all 15 of his points in the first three quarters as the Trojans built a commanding 52-24 lead. Darian James added 14 points, Virgil Ellis had 10 and Izzac Carver and Elijah Hernandez eight apiece.
Lower Lake’s only loss in the tournament came in the first round, 54-34, to Piedmont, which went on to win the Stokes title. The Trojans bounced back with a 74-46 victory over Foresthill and their win over Upper Lake.
“I’ve heard from many that this year’s Upper Lake squad is athletic, has some bigs and shooters. That was true,” Lower Lake coach Tim Biasotti said. “They are a good, talented team. We just played probably the best game we’ve played this season. It was another game the team came together and played a full four quarters.
“I’d like to see where we’d be if we started this strong in game one, but I’ll take where we are at currently and I’m excited to build off of our current two-game stretch,” Biasotti added.
It wasn’t a great way to end the preseason for the Cougars (8-2), who don’t play again until their league open at Roseland Collegiate Prep on Jan. 3.
“I knew before the game started we were in trouble,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said. “We just didn’t seem to have energy or focus.”
Upper Lake completely abandoned its inside game in favor of shooting 3-pointers.
“We took too many threes,” Dutcher said. “Whenever we lean on threes it just doesn’t work for us. Our three big guys took a combined four shots (for the game). That’s not going to get it done.”
Kenny Hodges’ 25 points paced the Cougars and Dylan Armstrong had eight.
Seventh place
Foresthill 62, Calistoga 52
Foresthill clinched seventh place with a win over Calistoga. Syler Tuttle’s 23 points paced the Wildfires while Cesar Ayala led the Wildcats with 25 points.
