JV Mustangs improve to 2-0 with 61-21 victory
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MIDDLETOWN >> Harley Holley’s double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds helped the Middletown High School varsity girls basketball team reach the win column for the first time this season as the Mustangs used a big first quarter to defeat the Casa Grande Gauchos 54-42 in non-league action Tuesday night at Middletown.
Izzi Hoogendoorn scored 15 points for the second night in a row as Middletown (1-1) easily bounced back from a season-opening 44-42 loss to Rancho Cotate on Monday night in Rohnert Park.
“Harley’s rebounding was a key component to our game,” Middletown interim head coach Shannon Williams said. “While Casa had her outmatched in height, Harley was a force in the paint, coming up with rebound after rebound.”
Jordyn Harbison, the Middletown point guard, joined Hoogendoorn and Holley in double digits with 11 points, and Sarah Fetters just missed with nine points.
Hoogendoorn, a sophomore, also pulled down seven rebounds and had six steals in Middletown’s home opener.
“She attacks the basket very well but also is excellent at distributing the ball,” Williams said.
Middletown led 20-12 after one quarter and still had a seven-point lead – 34-27 – entering the final period.
“We started strong in the first quarter and had a good rhythm,” Williams said. “The second quarter was a defensive battle with both teams only scoring four points. We came out of halftime and made some costly turnovers that allowed them to go on a bit of a run. Thankfully we were able to adjust.”
Middletown put the game away with a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“Credit to Casa Grande though,” Williams said. “They were not about to go away quietly and battled strong to the end.”
Williams gave high marks to the team’s defense and rebounding.
“Autumn Clark showed up in a big way, coming off the bench and contributing on both ends of the court (including eight rebounds).”
Middletown plays its third game in four days Thursday at home against Calistoga. Junior varsity action tips off at 5:30 p.m.
JV game
Middletown improved to 2-0 on the season with a 61-21 win over Casa Grande, led by 17 points from Emma Davis, 10 points from Ally Cherry, and eight apiece from Jolene Holley and Grace Williams.
Davis, a freshman, also had six rebounds and five steals while Holley pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds. Williams finished with seven steals and Cherry had five.
“Emma Davis showed up big tonight and was a force at both ends of the court,” Middletown head coach Daryl Dacosta said. “She was flying all over the court making great decisions and facilitating her teammates as well as scoring a team-high 17 points.”
Holley’s rebounding also made a big difference, according to Dacosta.
“Jolene Holley was controlling the boards and her hard work in the paint was giving our team a lot of second-chance shots,” Dacosta said. “Her energy down low was contagious and the team fed off of her.”
Cherry and Williams helped Middletown generate quite a few fastbreak points with their steals.
Chloe Pulido and Emma Jones finished with six points apiece.
