Middletown records 10th win of season with 34-29 victory over Sonoma Academy
Lake County Sports on Facebook
MIDDLETOWN >> In a game that wasn’t as close as the final score might suggest, an understrength Middletown High School varsity girls basketball team beat the Sonoma Academy Coyotes for its 10th win of the season, 34-29, on Saturday in Middletown.
The Mustangs (10-5) rested Izzi Hoogendoorn as a precaution after the senior took two hard spills on the court Tuesday in a league win at Lower Lake. Hoogendoorn did start in Friday’s road win at Fort Bragg, but made an early exit as she did not feel well, according to her mom, head coach Roxi Holt.
With Middletown set to face St. Helena and Upper Lake in two league home games next week, Holt said it made sense for the Mustangs to not take any chances and rest Hoogendoorn against non-league opponent Sonoma Academy.
“I think she’ll suit up next week, but I’m not going to take any chances with her health,” Holt said.
Minus Hoogendoorn, the Mustangs went back and forth with the Coyotes in the first quarter, opening up a 9-8 lead. Middletown’s defense took control of the game from there, limiting Sonoma Academy to just three points in the second quarter and three in the third quarter as the Mustangs built a 29-14 lead. While the Coyotes made a push late in the fourth quarter to get as close as five in the final seconds, Middletown’s lead was never threatened.
“We were able to get everyone in, which is important,” Holt said. “I think this game will help us going into next week, which is a big week for us.”
While the Mustangs are in a transition year after earning a share of the league championship a year ago with a veteran squad, they are the only undefeated NCL I team remaining this year four games into a 14-game schedule.
“I’m proud of the girls who stepped up today with Izzi out,” Holt said.
A trio of Mustangs, led by Jordyn Harbison with 10 points and five steals, Autumn Clark with 10 points and Harley Holley with seven points and 12 rebounds, helped Middletown maintain a double-digit lead for much of the game.
Holt also was impressed with the play of Thaly Rodriguez, who added six points.
“She is improving quite a bit,” Holt said of Rodriguez. “They all were working hard for me out there.”
In other non-league girls action Saturday:
Healdsburg 48, Clear Lake 26
At Healdsburg, Faith McIntire scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as Clear Lake lost to the Healdsburg Greyhounds.
Outside of the senior McIntire, no other Clear Lake player scored more than four points as the Cardinals fell to 7-9 on the season. Haylie Garcia added three points as well as team highs in rebounds (15) and steals (six).
Clear Lake resumes its league schedule Tuesday in Kelseyville against the Knights. Both teams bring 2-2 league records into the game.
