Clear Lake wins opener in Gene Duffy HClassic, Kelseyville prevails at Oroville Tournament
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HEALDSBURG >> Justin-Siena is a good team … a really good team.
The Middletown Mustangs and head coach Roxi Holt knew that going into Thursday’s game against the Braves, who return pretty much everything from a 27-5 squad last season. While it was a tall order for Middletown in the opening round of the 75th annual Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament in Healdsburg, Holt thinks playing a team like Justin-Siena in a tournament such as the REIBT, which isn’t for the faint of heart, will pay dividends down the road for the Mustangs.
“We’re the only (girls) team in our county in this tournament this year, and there’s a reason for that,” Holt said. “Playing this kind of competition will pay off for us eventually. We’re very young this year compared to the last three years. I’m starting a freshman and a sophomore, but we keep coming to this tournament.”
Just making it to Smith Robinson Gym on Thursday proved a bit of a challenge for the Mustangs as their team van had a tire go flat on Highway 128 near Calistoga.
“Our transportation team (at Middletown) was on it, so we were on the road again in no time,” Holt said. “But we were late arriving at the gym. The Justin-Siena coach told us not to worry about it, to warm up, and the tournament officials here were great. They treat you well down here.”
While the Mustangs play strong defense and have senior Mia Hoogendoorn to lead them, there wasn’t much they could do against a Justin-Siena team loaded with talent. Twelve players strong, the Braves rotated in fresh legs, usually in groups of four, every few minutes. Middletown, which has a roster of seven, couldn’t afford to give its top players much of a break, if any.
Hoogendoorn’s No. 23 counterpart for the Braves, Jordan Washington, scored 20 points despite being part of Justin-Siena’s frequent player rotations. The 6-foot-1 senior was unstoppable down low no matter who or how many Mustangs were guarding her. She also pulled up from about 12 feet to bury a jump shot at one point.
“She’s talented,” Holt said. “We couldn’t stop her.”
Washington had plenty of help from teammates, 6-0 power forward Naveena Jackson, 5-7 guard Lauen Keller and 5-9 center Madyson Carson. Justin-Siena struggled with its outside shoot but did all kinds of damage inside against the smaller Mustangs, who played tough early, trailing only 17-9 after one quarter, but couldn’t keep hold off an unrelenting assault down low by the Braves and their crisp ball movement.
Justin-Siena pulled away with a 15-0 second quarter and never looked back.
The Braves’ defense held Hoogendoorn, who earlier this season scored her 1,000th career point, scoreless until the 7:17 mark of the third quarter, when she converted a basket to make it 34-11. Harley Holley’s free throw and a 3-pointer by Jaylee Doris that cut Justin-Siena’s lead to 40-15, were Middletown’s only other points in the quarter.
Hoogendoorn was able to score seven points in the fourth quarter to finish with a team-leading nine. Doris finished with six and Jordyn Harbison added four, which were Middletown’s first four points of the game after Ukiah jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
“You can’t compete with that team,” Holt said. “We tried, but they’re a more team than us, obviously.”
Added Holt of the defending REIBT champions, “I’ll be surprised if they don’t win the tournament (again).”
Middletown draws Ukiah on Friday in the consolation semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Ukiah lost 38-24 to McKinleyville in opening-round action Thursday.
In other girls basketball action Thursday:
Clear Lake 43, Grace Christian 40
At Calistoga, Faith McIntire’s second double-double in as many nights carried the Clear Lake Cardinals to a win over Grace Christian Academy in the opening round of the Gene Duffy Holiday Classic at Calistoga High School.
McIntire, a junior, finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds as the Cardinals improved to 3-2. She also had five steals. Clear Lake plays tournament host Calistoga in the winner’s semifinals Friday at 8 p.m.
Jazmin Wiebusch also scored 12 points for Clear Lake and Karsyn Greer added six points and four steals. Kam Cresto finished with four points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Also for the Cardinals, Emily Geralia had four points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Clear Lake had a double-digit lead after one quarter, 19-6, and at halftime, 29-18, before Grace Christian closed the gap.
Kelseyville 38, Las Plumas 27
At Oroville, led by 17 points from Briana Davis, the Kelseyville Knights continued to play solid defense while beating Las Plumas in the opening round of the Oroville Tournament.
The Knights (2-4) draw tournament host Oroville in the winner’s semifinals Friday at 6 p.m.
“We had a great turnaround game from Tuesday (27-26 league loss to Lower Lake),” Kelseyville head coach Tim Conrad said. “For the second game in a row we only allowed 27 points. This was the best game of our year so far. I’ve been waiting for this team to show up.”
We had a great turnaround game from Tuesday. For the second game in a row, we only allowed 27 points. This was the best game of our year so far. I’ve been waiting for this team to show up.
Kelseyville built a 23-12 halftime lead and took a 29-22 lead into the fourth quarter.
“Our first half was close to perfect as we’re going to get,” Conrad said. “I’m very proud of the girls and how they responded tonight.”
Davis also had seven rebounds and six steals in the win. Ashlyn Wurm added four points and seven steals. Nyejzniya Krohn joined Davis with seven rebounds while also added three points and three assists.
