KELSEYVILLE — Gearing up for a North Central League I season that arrives in full force next week, the Kelseyville Knights battled the Eureka Loggers deep into the fourth quarter before dropping a 68-56 non-league decision in varsity boys basketball action Wednesday evening at Kelseyville.
The Knights (5-5) were as close as four points with three minutes to play, but the Loggers hit two critical 3-point shots down the stretch to pull away from the Knights.
“It was competitive all the way through,” Kelseyville head coach Oscar Lopez said. “We just ran out of gas.”
Kelseyville suited up only eight players as three others were away on family trips. The game was physical from the opening tip, according to Lopez, and not only in the paint.
“Everywhere on the floor,” Lopez said.
Down 14-9 after one quarter, the Knights used a 19-13 second quarter to take a 28-27 lead going into halftime. Eureka led 47-43 going to the fourth quarter.
Luke Watkins continued his solid play for the Knights, scoring 22 points and hitting five 3-pointers along the way. Jake Keithly added 12 points and two 3-pointers, and freshman Kyle Watkins added nine points.
Eureka also brought along its junior varsity and freshmen teams and Kelseyville obliged both by dividing its JV squad up into two separate teams. Eureka won 58-31 in the JV game with Kelseyville’s Diego Lopez scoring nine points. The Loggers also won the freshman game (score not available).
Kelseyville’s varsity plays two league games and three games overall next week beginning with a road trip Monday to Fort Bragg. The Knights won a pair of league games before the winter break, beating Roseland University Prep on Dec. 7 and Lower Lake on Dec. 14. After Fort Bragg, the Knights are home Jan. 7 against St. Helena and on the road Jan. 8 for a non-league game at Fortuna.
