Clear Lake, Middletown, Kelseyville JV boys post North Central League I wins
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LAKEPORT >> Gael Moreno’s 18 points helped the Clear Lake Cardinals picked up their first North Central League I win of the season, a 53-51 victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in junior varsity boys basketball action Tuesday in Lakeport.
In a game where the lead went back and forth late in the fourth quarter, clutch free throws by Moreno and Nolan Buffalo (eight points) put the Cardinals (1-2 league) over the top as Fort Bragg (2-1) dropped its first league game.
“We kept battling,” Clear Lake head coach Shady Cerezo said. “I’m proud of my guys for hanging in. Gael Moreno and Nolan Buffalo came up clutch in the fourth with some big free throws and timely steals for us to be able to come back and win it in the last minute.”
Buffalo went 2-for-2 and Moreno 6-for-8 at the line down the stretch.
“We’re still improving game by game and practice by practice,” Cerezo said. “Just enjoying the journey with this group of young men.”
Noah Cleaver had 13 points for the Cardinals, who are home Friday to play Cloverdale at 5 p.m.
Middletown 74, Lower Lake 25
At Middletown, in a game that ended with a running clock, the Middletown Mustangs knocked off the Lower Lake Trojans in NCL I action behind 18 points from Cody Perez and a Valentine Jimenez double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“Pretty easy win for the Middletown JV boys tonight at home,” Middletown head coach Andy Brown said.
Middletown (2-1, 9-5) led 26-2 after one quarter.
Kolton Costlow scored 10 points for the Mustangs, who dominated on the offensive and defensive boards. Leland Pike pulled down 14 rebounds and Deangelo Yee had 12 rebounds.
Lower Lake scoring was not reported.
Middletown hosts South Fork in a non-league game Wednesday at 4 p.m. Lower Lake returns home Friday to play St. Helena at 5 p.m.
Cloverdale 51, Upper Lake 42
At Cloverdale, coming off a 10-day layoff, the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I action.
TJ Malicay’s 10 points led the Cougars (1-2 league). Antario Wyman added six points.
“We definitely looked like a team that didn’t play for 10 days,” Upper Lake head coach Lupeli Faleagafulu said. “Started the game playing slow and sloppy and that’s pretty much how e played throughout the game.”
Added Faleagafulu, “We gave up too many offensive rebounds and we need to get back to that aggressive hustle on defense we had the last time we played.”
Upper Lake hosts Kelseyville on Friday at 5 p.m.
Kelseyville 65, St. Helena 47
At Kelseyville, Jacob Amendola’s 14 points powered the Kelseyville Knights in a league home win over the St. Helena Saints.
Kelseyville improved to a league-best 3-0 and 7-6 overall. Nick Arredondo finished with 11 points and Joey Watson added 10.
Kelseyville visits Upper Lake on Friday at 5 p.m.
