Kelseyville, Lower Lake notch league wins to move one back of M’town in standings
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LAKEPORT >> Kam Cresto scored all 12 of her points in the second half, including a basket that put Clear Lake ahead to stay late in the third quarter, while teammates Amelie Davis, Jazmin Wiebusch and Atiana Patino also hit some key shots down the stretch as the Cardinals beat North Central League I-leading Middletown 50-40 in varsity girls basketball action Tuesday night in Lakeport.
Davis, a freshman, finished with a team-best 14 points and 17 rebounds while Wiebusch added 10 points and Patino eight as the Cardinals (3-4 league, 8-11 overall) handed the Mustangs (6-1, 12-6) their first league loss. With Kelseyville, Lower Lake and St. Helena also posting league wins Tuesday, four teams are now separated by just a game in the standings heading into the second half of the league schedule, which opens Friday.
While the Cardinals hit big shot after big shot in the third and fourth quarters to catch and pass the Mustangs, who led by as many as eight points in the first half, Middletown struggled mightily from the field in the second half, missing several shots from right underneath the basket.
“Hard watching my team play the way they did tonight,” Middletown head coach Roxi Holt said. “Our field goal percentage was 27 percent. Can’t win ballgames with that kind of shooting.”
Already down two players before the game started – starter Autumn Clark was away on a soccer recruiting trip and reserve Brenna Goodloe was out with the flu — Middletown also lost starting post Harley Holley to foul trouble late in the game as the Cardinals pushed their lead to 46-36 midway through the fourth quarter. The Mustangs made a late push to close to 46-40, but Cresto’s final basket of the night and a driving Davis layup with 1:25 left sealed the victory.
Grace Williams, a junior varsity callup, led the Mustangs with 11 points while Holley and Izzi Hoogendoorn each had 10. Williams also led Middletown’s JV team to a 39-37 victory earlier in the night with a team-best 15 points.
Middletown also struggled from the free-throw line, going 4-or-11.
The Mustangs led 13-6 after one quarter and 23-18 at halftime. Clear Lake surged ahead with a 21-11 third quarter. Wiebusch hit a big 3-pointer in the third quarter to cut Middletown’s lead to 25-24.
Both teams open the second half of their league schedules at home Friday. Clear Lake faces St. Helena (5-2) while Middletown draws Cloverdale (0-7).
In junior varsity action, Middletown held off Clear Lake in a first-place showdown, 39-37, handing the host Cardinals their first league loss and first loss of the season.
Both teams brought 5-0 league records into the game.
“We knew going into tonight it was going to be a battle,” Middletown head coach Daryl Dacosta said. “And that’s exactly what we got.”
Williams led the Mustangs with 15 points and 12 steals while Chloe Pulido had 14 points.
“Gracie and Chloe stepped up huge for us, and the girls stuck to the game plan,” Dacosta said. “Ally Cherry was locked in on defense. Her (nine) steals were key to our win.”
Emma Davis added seven points and eight rebounds as Middletown improved to 13-3 overall.
Camara Wittman’s 11 points paced the Cardinals (5-1, 10-1). Macie Snyder added eight, Haily Perez had seven and Davis six (like Middletown’s Williams, Davis also played the entire varsity game, leading the Cardinals in scoring).
“Middletown played some good, disciplined basketball tonight and they shot much better from the free-throw line,” Clear Lake head coach Tony Farrington said. “I am hopeful that this will help our team regain focus for the remainder of the season. With that being said, our girls have nothing to be down about. They pushed through some fatigue and pain like the warriors that they truly are.”
Kelseyville 69, Fort Bragg 40
At Fort Bragg, on a night when Kelseyville suited up only six players, the result of Grace Hobbs missing the game with the flu and Yuri Montero out for the season with a meniscus tear, AJ Wurm scored 24 of her team-leading 30 points in the first half to propel the Knights to a 39-17 halftime lead.
“I can’t say enough about my girls,” Kelseyville head coach Tim Conrad said. “We play so hard and really smart. We were exhausted at the end of the night, but I think they would all tell you it was well worth it.”
Kelseyville’s win combined with Middletown’s loss to Clear Lake leaves the Knights (5-2, 13-4) just a game behind Middletown in the league standings, and those two teams square off Jan. 27 in Kelseyville.
“Honestly, I could say something about every girl we had suited up, but AJ was the star again tonight. At the half it was AJ 24, Fort Bragg 17.”
Added Conrad, “In the second dhal they keyed on her, which opened things up or other girls, and every one of them stepped up. AJ also played really unselfish tonight, dishing out several nice assists with three defenders running at her.
Wurm finished with six assists and also had 10 steals.
Mati Mateer, another of the team’s seniors, added 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals while Aubree Sperber had nine points and four rebounds. Liz Erlandson finished with six points, six rebounds and four steals, and Arane Gonzalez had four points, four rebounds and two steals. Kylee Denham chipped in another two points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Wurm is 62 points shy of 1,000 for her career.
Kelseyville opens the second half of its league schedule in Lower Lake against the Trojans.
In JV action, Kelseyville beat Fort Bragg 51-22 behind 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals from Ximena Herren and 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals from Brooke Poff.
“Our defensive intensity really set us up for success in the open court,” Conrad said. “And the girls did a great job of trusting each other, moving the ball, and at times running the offense.”
Olivia Arredondo scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds for the Knights (3-3, 7-6). Rilee Sperber, Carly Gleason and Taylor Wood added six points apiece.
Lower Lake 47, Cloverdale 33
At Lower Lake, Lower Lake outscored Cloverdale 19-5 in the fourth quarter to break open a 28-28 game after three quarters.
Lower Lake (5-2, 8-8) has won each of its last four games to close out a strong first half of league play. The second half opens Friday at home against Kelseyville.
“The girls started and ended the game playing great defense,” Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said. “Complete team win as every player scored tonight and each one contributed with at least one steal apiece.”
Lower Lake went into halftime with a 22-17 lead. Cloverdale (0-7, 5-12) tied it with an 11-6 third quarter.
All 10 Trojans reached the scoring column led by Irianna Milano with nine points, Brooke Watson with eight, including two 3-pointers, Jamiya Lee-Ayers with six, Aly Aguirre with five, and Lily Milano and Mary Watson with four apiece.
In JV action, Lower Lake beat Willits in a non-league game at Willits behind double-doubles from Eden Sparks (15 points, 17 rebounds) and Darleen Benefield (13 points, 12 rebounds). Lexi Mitchell added seven points.
“This was the level of intensity we know our girls can play at,” Lower Lake head coach Jessica Lackowski said. “Our defense shifted perfectly on weak side, which led to Darleen’s double-double.”
Lower Lake is 11-5 overall.
St. Helena 59, Upper Lake 41
At Upper Lake, Alyssa John scored 20 points and also led Upper Lake with 16 rebounds, but the Cougars couldn’t snap their league losing streak, which now stands at four games.
“The girls did everything pretty good the first half,” Upper Lake head coach Raelene Cromwll said. “We come out after halftime and just fell apart. “I’m just not sure why they can’t continue the grind in the second half.”
Rylee Zimmerschied had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (3-4, 13-6). Aimee Schaefers added six points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals.
Upper Lake’s JV team did snap a four-game league losing streak, beating St. Helena 34-19. Annica Warren led a balanced Cougars attack with 12 points, Kenzie Foley added 10 and Amelia Burnet had nine.
Upper Lake is 2-4 in league and 4-8 overall.
