HEALDSBURG — Playing three games in three days with almost no bench caught up to the Middletown High School varsity girls basketball team Saturday in the consolation championship game of the Redwood Empire Invitational at Healdsburg.
McKinleyville, which had a full bench, beat Middletown 40-33.
“It was a rough game,” Middletown head coach Roxi Hoogendoorn said. “McKinleyville has some big post players down low.”
The Panthers (5-1) took a 19-16 lead into halftime.
“They came out with more energy than we did in the second half,” Hoogendoorn said. “My girls were exhausted and they were able to sub for their starters and give them a rest. I just don’t have the bench right now to give my girls a break.”
Middletown (6-3) doesn’t have a big roster to begin with this season with only seven players, but one of those seven — starting point guard Jaidyn Brown — was unable to play in the tournament this weekend because of a shoulder injury. She could return Tuesday when the Mustangs host Fort Bragg in a North Central League I game.
The Mustangs kept it close the entire way but couldn’t close the gap late in the game.
Sophomore Mia Hoogendoorn, filling in at the point for Brown, led the Mustangs with 18 points and was named to the All-Tournament team.
“Mia did a good job of running the point,” Hoogendoorn said.
Skylar Williams had six points for the Mustangs, Abigail Tacla five and Amanda Hart four. Hoogendoorn sank four 3-pointers and Williams one.
“Our shots were starting to fall a little bit, which was good to see,” Hoogendoorn said.
Both of Middletown’s losses during the tournament, including a 45-39 setback to Arcata in the opening round Thursday, were hard-fought and competitive games, according to Hoogendoorn.
“I’m not sad we were here, the competition was worth it,” Hoogendoorn said.
Fortuna 53, Kelseyville 11
At Healdsburg, Fortuna defeated Kelseyville in the seventh-place game of the Redwood Empire Invitational, dropping the Knights to 1-6 on the season.
“We held our own in the first quarter better than we have done in this tournament,” Kelseyville head coach Terry McIntire said. “And we got more rebounds overall.”
Kelseyville, minus starters Olivia Hommer and Lily Wiser because of injury, trailed 11-4 after one quarter.
Fortuna pulled away with a 19-3 second quarter and continued to lengthen its lead during a 19-2 third quarter.
There were a couple of bright spots for the young Knights, including a 10-rebound game by Eliza Walker, who also scored two points. Ashley Hobbs also had three steals, one block and one assist.
“Eliza did a good job rebounding for us,” McIntire said. “Ashley did a good job on defense.”
Five different Knights scored two points apiece.
Kelseyville hosts Lower Lake on Tuesday in league action. The junior varsity game begins at 5:30 p.m. The Knights are home later in the week for the Stokes Tournament, which tips off Thursday at the Kelseyville High School gym.
Lower Lake JVs 26, Bella Vista JVs 21
At Folsom, Brooke Benson’s eight points helped the Lower Lake junior varsity squad beat Bella Vista in the final round of the Folsom-Vista Winter Classic.
“The entire team put in effort during the game to bring the win,” Lower Lake coach Jessica Wiley said. “Our turnovers were the biggest downfall and the main reason for the low-scoring game. Luckily we had a strong defensive game in the post area from Jamiya Lee-Ayers and Brooke Benson.”
Lower Lake (3-2) plays a league game on Tuesday in Kelseyville at 5:30 p.m.
