24-7 run to end game carries Kelseyville to win; Mustangs knock off St. Vincent
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HEALDSBURG >> For the first three quarters and change Saturday afternoon, the Healdsburg Greyhounds had every reason to believe they could beat the Kelseyville Knights in a final-round game at the 75th annual Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament in Healdsburg.
And then the final six minutes happened.
Kelseyville’s defense stopped Healdsburg in its tracks – something like a car hitting a stone wall at 100 mph – and that airtight defense generated a transition game that left the Greyhounds wondering what had just happened as they fell 70-53 to the Knights.
The game was tied at 46 at the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter when Kelseyville went on a 24-7 run that featured 3-pointers by Brock Barrick, Sebastian Chavez and Ryder Leary, and a handful of transition baskets by the likes of Barrick, Leary, Gene Holdenried, Kyle Watkins and Tyler Bryant.
“We got after it on defense,” Kelseyville head coach Oscar Lopez said of the game’s final six minutes. “I’ve been challenging them to play better defense, and I think they answered.”
Kelseyville’s defense came and went in the first three quarters, looking good in flashes and suddenly not so good, though part of that was the young Greyhounds (4-6), who shot the ball extremely well at times. Ethan Overdorf, a sophomore forward/center, led the team with 20 points while teammates Thatcher Little and Cooper Conrad added 13 and 11 points, respectively.
“I think both teams played great,” Lopez said.
Healdsburg held a small lead most of the game. Kelseyville (4-3) pushed ahead to stay on the second of back-to-back 3-pointers by Barrick, which gave the Knights a 49-46 lead. From that point, it was all Kelseyville.
A Leary 3-pointer and Barrick layup with 3:10 remaining put Kelseyville up 60-49. Leary scored on a transition basket with an assist from Holdenried to make it 62-49. After Healdsburg hit one of two free throws, the Knights put the game with baskets by Holdenried (Kelseyville’s fourth shot of the possession) and a Watkins putback. Leary and Bryant added baskets to complete the scoring.
Healdsburg held as much as an eight-point lead in the second quarter although Kelseyville fought back to make it a 29-27 game at halftime. The Knights took a 42-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
Kelseyville received ample contributions from starters and reserves, according to Lopez, who has the benefit of a deep bench.
“Tyler, Ryder and Max (Hommer) did a great job off the bench,” Lopez said. “And (Jayden) Teabo played well in the third quarter, his presence in the paint really helped us and got us going.”
Watkins led a balanced Kelseyville attack with 17 points while Barrick, Leary and Gene Holdenried all had 14.
“Once he found his feet, he got to the basket and caused a lot of havoc,” Lopez said of Holdenried.
While the Knights struggled with their outside shooting most of the first three quarters, they still finished with six 3-pointers, including two each by All-Tournament selection Barrick and Leary.
Kelseyville jumps right back into the fray Tuesday with a big road league game at Middletown (6-2). Along with St. Helena, Kelseyville and Middletown appear to be the top three NCL I teams this season.
“We’ve got to prove we’re still league champs,” Lopez said.
Kelseyville and St. Helena tied for the NCL I title last season in a four-team race while Middletown came in fourth, two games behind both the Knights and Saints.
In other boys basketball action Saturday:
Middletown 37, St. Vincent 35
At Petaluma, despite scoring only one point in the third quarter, the Middletown Mustangs beat tournament host St. Vincent to finish third in the second annual Gary von Raesfeld Memorial Tournament at St. Vincent High School.
What the Mustangs (6-2) lacked in offense on Saturday, they more than made up for with the play of their defense, Middletown head coach Jake Diehl said.
“We played lockdown defense,” Diehl said. “There was a lid on the hoop for us. We had plenty of good looks.”
Part of the problem might have been tired legs as the Mustangs were playing their fourth game in five days.
“It’s never easy,” Diehl said. “I’m proud of the fellas for grinding it out.”
Middletown held a 23-13 halftime lead and a 24-22 advantage through three quarters.
Bodhi Moore’s 17 points, including three 3-pointers, led the Mustangs in the scoring column. He also had four steals. All-Tournament selection Jon Hawkins picked up another double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. He also blocked six shots.
St. Helena 76, Clear Lake 24
At Calistoga, playing the St. Helena Saints for the second time in five days, this time in the championship game of the Gene Duffy Holiday Classic, proved to be no blessing.
“What can you?” Clear Lake head coach Mark Cory said. “St. Helena is a well-coached and good team. They came ready to play at a high level. We did not match them in any area. Things went from bad to worse for us.”
Zane McAuley’s 12 points paced the Cardinals (3-4), who dropped a 61-43 decision to the Saints earlier in the week at St. Helena, the North Central League I opener for both teams.
“This can either be the worst or best thing that happens to our team,” Cory said. “It is time to get better.”
Clear Lake resumes its league schedule Tuesday at home against Upper Lake.
Orland 76, Lower Lake 35
At Cloverdale, the Orland Trojans dominated their Lower Lake counterparts in the seventh-place game of the John McMillan Holiday Invitational at Cloverdale High School.
“We struggled and lacked hustle from the very beginning, and they just ran away with the win,” Lower Lake head coach Anthony Farrington said. “Orland came out to play and hustled. They ran the ball and hit the boards. We struggled to get back on defense and play with tenacity in order to prevent the transition game. We fail to continue to crash the boards and box out. Our continued lack of hustle and inability to focus on small things, like crashing the boards, is costing us severely.”
Noah Hakala led the Trojans with 10 points and All-Tournament selection Brody Shields added six more. Hector Murillo had four.
Lower Lake resumes league play Tuesday night at home against Fort Bragg.
“I am going to implement some fundamental changes with which I hope will ignite a much-needed spark with this team so that they develop that fire in the belly in order to start getting some wins,” Farrington said.
Upper Lake JV 63, Hamilton City JV 48
At Maxwell, the Upper Lake junior varsity squad knocked off Hamilton City in the consolation championship game of the Maxwell JV Tournament behind 20 points from TJ Malicay, 11 from Mason Parker and 10 from Shaun Way.
“Just a great overall win,” Upper Lake head coach Lupeli Faleagafulu said. “The guys were very proud of themselves on how they played today, and it’s always nice when the whole bench can get some solid minutes to help contribute to a win.”
Upper Lake (6-4) resumes league play Tuesday in Lakeport against Clear Lake.
