FORT BRAGG — Fort Bragg’s man-to-man pressure defense took a toll on the Clear Lake Cardinals, who suffered their first North Central League I loss, 39-25, in varsity girls basketball action Saturday in Fort Bragg.
Fort Bragg (5-1) tightened the NCL I race with its victory. Cloverdale (6-0) beat Kelseyville 56-43 on Saturday and is the last undefeated team. Clear Lake drops to 6-1. Fort Bragg and Cloverdale have yet to play.
“The most physical game we’ve played all year,” Clear Lake head coach Phil Psalmonds said. “Normally we can match the intensity but today they (Timberwolves) just outphysicaled us.”
Psalmonds said the officials let both teams play. Even so, the Cardinals had three players — Abby Mertle, Montana Wells and Rubi Ford — foul out it before it was over.
Fort Bragg’s dominance on the offensive boards played a huge part in the victory.
“Probably 20 of their 39 points were on offensive putbacks,” Psalmonds said. “Their offense is just throw the ball up and go after the rebound. When we play them again we need to do a better job of boxing out and getting the defensive rebound.”
Fort Bragg led 9-5 after one quarter, 17-11 at halftime and 24-14 through three quarters.
Mertle led the Cardinals, who were held without a 3-pointer, with seven points and Maddy Brewster added six.
The Cardinals close out the first half of their league schedule Tuesday at home against Cloverdale.
“That becomes a really big game now,” Psalmonds said.
Clear Lake won the junior varsity game 44-6 behind 14 points from Kiley Voris, 10 from Kaylah Billig and seven from Hannah Garrity.
The Cardinals, now 6-1 in league play, led 20-0 at the half and shut out the Timberwolves until midway through the third quarter.
Clear Lake’s defense committed only nine fouls to Fort Bragg’s 24.
In other NCL I girls action Saturday:
Cloverdale 56, Kelseyville 43
At Kelseyville, trailing 32-15 at halftime, the Kelseyville Knights cut Cloverdale’s lead to three points in the third quarter before falling to the Eagles.
Kelseyville (0-7, 1-16) outscored Cloverdale (6-0), the NCL I leader, 28-24 in the second half.
“It’s starting to click,” Kelseyville head coach Terry McIntire said of his young team’s play. “They had a lot more energy tonight and they’re believing in themselves.”
While the Knights struggled form the field in the first half, their shots began to fall in the second half, according to McIntire.
“Our shots started dropping … they weren’t in the first half,” McIntire said.
Freshman Faith McIntire led the Knights with 15 points while Olivia Hommer collected another double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. McIntire also had three 3-pointers and three blocks. Cali Schnabl added six points.
“They played really good as a team,” McIntire said.
Camryn Donahoo’s 14 points powered the Eagles while Tylie Hatcher added 12, all on 3-pointers.
In th JV game, Cloverdale beat Kelseyville 47-36. Matisyn Mateer’s 16 points led the Knights.
Willits at Middletown, ppd.
At Middletown, a scheduled game between Willits and Middletown was postponed and will made up at a later date.
