HEALDSBURG — Middletown’s varsity boys rallied from a pair of 10-point deficits in the first half and held a 34-32 lead late in the third quarter before the Healdsburg Greyhounds battled back in their home gym to beat the Mustangs 57-46 in the opening round of the 72nd Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament on Thursday night in Healdsburg.
Healdsburg (5-1) took a 39-34 lead into the fourth quarter. Middletown (4-1) was as close as 44-39 before the Greyhounds put the game away with a 13-4 run.
Middletown’s Brody Breeden was charged with guarding Healdsburg 6-foot-8 center Graham Macdonald during the game and it developed into quite the battle, according to Jake Diehl, Middletown’s junior varsity head coach who was filling in for varsity head coach G.J. Rockwell.
“Brody held out as long as he could down there,” Diehl said of Breeden, who had no chance of scoring down low against Macdonald.
“All 15 of Brody’s points came from the outer perimeter,” Diehl said. “That kid (Macdonald) would swat anything away down in the paint.”
Breeden never back down, according to Diehl.
“And he never came out of the game … not once,” Diehl said.
Cole Ketchum also turned in a strong effort on both ends, according to Diehl. He finished with 14 points. Lucas DaCosta added nine points.
Healdsburg led 14-7 after one quarter and 28-23 at halftime.
Middletown played San Rafael in the consolation semifinals on Friday.
