MIDDLETOWN — In a North Central League I varsity boys basketball opener matching two of the league’s more successful programs of the last decade, the Middletown Mustangs got a big night from Andreas Cervantes and Jimmy Rockwell to turn back the Cloverdale Eagles 76-60 at Middletown High School.
Cervantes went off for 27 points despite making only one 3-pointer while Rockwell added 17 points, including a team-best five 3-pointers. Point guard Will Chastain added another 11 points.
“It’s the first game this season we’ve had everyone back,” Middletown head coach G.J. Rockwell said. “We played well together and our defensive game was nice. We also rebounded well.”
Middletown (1-0 league, 8-4 overall) led 19-10 after one quarter and had a 58-40 lead entering the final period.
“Andre was very, very active tonight,” Rockwell said of his top scorer. “Chastain did a very good job managing our offense and he also scored 11. He had a good game.”
Jonny Hoogendoorn’s play off the bench provided another lift, according to Rockwell.
“He made some pretty good hustle plays. He gave us a real nice spark.”
Sophomore center Josh Lemley, one of four Cloverdale players to score in double figures, led the Eagles with 18 points.
“Their big guy did a really nice job,” Rockwell said of Lemley. “But Cloverdale was just a little cold from the arc.”
In JV action, a game that went down to the wire saw Cloverdale edge Middletown 57-55.
“We had the game locked up, but a couple of unfortunate things happened down the stretch,” said Middletown coach Jon Hoogendoorn, who didn’t want to elaborate.
Middletown trailed by as many as 14 points midway through the third quarter before rallying against the Eagles.
Jorge Fonseca’s 13 points paced the Mustangs, Roberto Chaires added 10 and Greyson Rockwell and Luke Hoogendoorn had nine apiece.
Middletown’s teams are on the road Friday against St. Helena.
