Down by as many as 17 points, Kelseyville varsity boys rally against McKinleyville
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MCKINLEYVILLE >> Down by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Kelseyville Knights were one shot away from taking the lead in the final minute Monday night against the McKinleyville Panthers in non-league varsity boys basketball action at McKinleyville.
“It was an interesting last minute,” Kelseyville head coach Oscar Lopez as the Knights just came up short, falling 46-43 in a game where they had opportunities to win it at the end.
“We missed four free throws in the final minute,” Lopez said. “We had our chances.”
Kelseyville (0-2) whittled McKinleyville’s lead down to two and had the ball but couldn’t get off a shot. The Panthers ended up hitting a free throw to go back up by three points.
“It was a good road test early on,” Lopez said of the silver lining for the Knights. “We’re moving in the right direction as we gear up for league.”
Kelseyville, the North Central League I co-champion along with St. Helena last season, has dropped two road games – to Terra Nova and McKinleyville – to open its 2024-25 schedule and the Knights return home Thursday night to take on defending North Coast Section Division 4 champion and state runner-up Justin-Siena (0-1), the team that ended the Knights’ season a year ago with a 91-37 win in the opening round of the sectional playoffs.
Against McKinleyville, the Knights started slow and trailed 18-5 after one quarter.
“It was almost like we were intimidated,” Lopez said of the Knights’ tentative play in the first few minutes. “Once we found ourselves, we began to play well.”
Kyle Watkins’ offense and defense helped the Knights battle back as did Ryder Leary’s play off the bench. Watkins led the team with 18 points, but he also helped shut down McKinleyville’s top scorer, holding him to two points in the second half.
“Kyle was just consistent for us,” Lopez said. “When we put him on their top guy, that’s when we began to make a move.”
Trailing 33-25 aft halftime and 41-31 going to the fourth quarter, the Knights continued to close in on the Panthers with some smart play by Leary.
“Ryder played great off the bench and hit some big shots down the stretch, especially when we got down seven in that chaotic final minute,” Lopez said. “He hit a three to put us down four. He also had a shot at the end of the half to get us back within 10.”
Leary joined Watkins in double digits with 13 points. Tyler Bryant added five points.
The Knights finished with four 3-pointers – one each by Watkins, Leary, Bryant and Brock Barrick.
Kelseyville’s defense played well throughout most of the game, according to Lopez, including forcing two jump balls in the final minute of the game.
“We just kept battling,” Lopez said.
McKinleyville also won the junior varsity game, beating Kelseyville 49-29 despite 12 points from Jacob Amendola and eight from Nick Arredondo.
Kelseyville’s JVs, now 0-2, are on the road Wednesday to play Hamilton City.