Upper Lake splits two games while Lower Lake falls at Redwood Classic
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ST. HELENA >> The Middletown Mustangs celebrated their first win of the season, beating Upper Lake 59-33 in the consolation semifinals of the Sutter Home Classic on Friday at St. Helena High School.
Upper Lake’s team hit the road immediately after the loss to play Roseland Collegiate Prep in a non-league at Santa Rosa, winning 75-32.
Middletown, at less than full strength in this early part of the season because of the football team’s deep postseason run, led 13-4 after one quarter and 31-18 at halftime.
“The fellas bounced back (from a 41-33 loss to Calistoga on Thursday) very well this evening,” Middletown head coach Jake Diehl said. “They played tough defense and moved the ball well on offense.”
Cody Perez led the Mustangs (1-2) with 13 points, including three 3-pointers, while Harrison Brown added 12 points, including a 3-pointer, and five assists. Nalu Johnson joined his teammates in double digits with 11 points and seven rebounds.
TJ Malicay led the Cougars with 13 points and Landen Robinson had 12.
“We filled in for a spot in the consolation bracket at the St. Helena tourney,” Upper Lake coach Thomas Santana said. “We came out flat, not moving the ball and struggling to make baskets. They just weren’t falling.”
Added Santana, “We gotta do better at seeing the court and do better on help defense,” Santana said.
Both teams are back in action Saturday. Middletown plays either Roseland University Prep or John Swett for the consolation championship while Upper Lake plays for seventh place.
Upper Lake 75, Roseland Collegiate Prep 32
At Santa Rosa, Malicay scored 31 points, Tyler Collins added 20 and Antario Wyman had 10 as the Cougars (1-2) roughed up Roseland Collegiate Prep in a non-league game.
“We had one goal, and it was to score 80, so we didn’t quite hit the mark, but fought hard and got close,” Santana said. “This was a good game to play after the rough loss earlier in the day to Middletown. Hopefully it gives us good motivation to carry into tomorrow (Saturday).”
Priory 86, Lower Lake 35
At Boonville, after winning their first two games Wednesday at the Redwood Classic, the Lower Lake Trojans fell to Priory High School of Portola in a third-round game. The Trojans play Cloverdale for third place Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Tucker Benson’s 11 points led the Trojans (2-1), Zackquez Saunders had seven and Noah Hakala five.
Benson, Saunders and Brody Shields all hit 3-pointers.
Lower Lake hosts Kelseyville in the North Central League I opener for both teams Tuesday.
JV boys basketball
Lower Lake JV Tournament
Middletown 61, Upper Lake 27
At Lower Lake, Middletown jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter and pretty much let the reserves take it from there in a first-round victory over Upper Lake in the Lower Lake JV Tournament.
“We came out of the gate pretty hot, with some good defense,” Middletown head coach Mike Myers said.
Jovial Najd led a balanced Middletown attack with 12 points, Donovan Clark added nine and Koa Johnson eight.
Upper Lake scoring wasn’t reported.
Middletown squared its record at 1-1 while Upper Lake fell to 0-2.
Both teams play two more games Saturday as the tournament wraps up.
Justin-Siena 72, Kelseyville 45
At Napa, Justin-Siena beat Kelseyville in a JV-only non-league game.
No other details were reported.
Kelseyville is 1-2.
The Knights open their league schedule Tuesday in Lower Lake.
