Izzi Hoogendoorn’s triple-double helps Middletown knock off Kelseyville 41-36
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KELSEYVILLE >> They still have some big games left, but the Middletown High School varsity girls basketball team took a big step toward winning a third straight North Central League I championship with a 41-36 road victory Tuesday night in Kelseyville, a game matching last season’s league co-champions.
Middletown (8-1 league, 14-6 overall) needed a win to avoid falling into a three-way tie for first place with St. Helena (7-2) and Kelseyville (6-3, 14-5). With five games remaining, the Mustangs now control their own destiny and given the talent head coach Roxi Holt’s squad has returning next season as well as moving up from a league-leading junior varsity squad, Middletown could be set for a long run of NCL I success.
Kelseyville senior guard AJ Wurm scored 25 points and moved to within 20 of 1,000 for her career, but the Knights otherwise struggled to find the basket against a solid Middletown defense. Wurm scored all nine of Kelseyville’s points in the first quarter and 18 of the team’s 20 first-half points. The Mustangs limited her to seven in the second half.
“In the second half we did a much job of containing her,” Holt said. “In the second quarter it felt like she had fastbreak after fastbreak. It felt like they scored more than the 11 points they did. We were fortunate we weren’t farther behind than we were.”
Added Holt, “I wasn’t happy about giving up that many points to one player, but she’s trying to score her 1,000th point and she’s a good player. I hope she gets that 1,000th point soon. I know all about that (pressure), so I’m happy for her.”
Holt’s daughter, Mia Hoogendoorn, scored her 1,000th and 1,500th career points during her senior season in 2024-25.
Kelseyville took a 20-15 lead into halftime after limiting Middletown to four points in the second quarter. The Mustangs had a 28-27 lead at three quarters. The two teams remained close down the stretch and it wasn’t until Izzi Hoogendoorn hit a 3-pointer with 2:04 remaining that the Mustangs pulled ahead to stay at 36-33. Hoogendoorn fouled out a short time later but left the game with a triple-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals.
“Izzi didn’t score many points against them the last two times we played them, so she needed to step up her game,” Holt said. “She did.”
It was the third meeting this season between the two teams and Middletown’s second win, both of them league games.
Autumn Clark added 10 points and Thaly Rodriguez seven for the Mustangs, who are home Friday to play Lower Lake as part of a four-game set between the two schools.
“We had three baskets made outside of AJ,” Kelseyville head coach Tim Conrad said. “AJ carried the load offensively for us. We need someone else to step up and get a bucket here and there. Tonight’s just wasn’t the night for that.”
Besides Wurm, only three other Kelseyville players scored during the game and the only one with more than two points was Aubree Sperber, who had eight.
“I felt like we got a lot of open looks in the first half, but just couldn’t score,” Conrad said. “We also did not take of the basketball, especially in the second half. We had 22 turnovers on the night.”
Kelseyville also struggled at the free-throw line, going just 6-for-18 compared to 10-for-16 for Middletown.
“We are still focused on winning out and seeing where than can take us,” Conrad said. “Middletown moved the ball well tonight and made more open looks and definitely more free throws than we did.”
Kelseyville plays a varsity-only game at St. Helena on Friday at 5 p.m. St. Helena is forfeiting the JV game because it does not have enough players.
In JV action Tuesday, Middletown improved to 7-0 in the NCL I standings and 14-3 overall with a 47-33 victory.
Emma Jones and Ally Cherry finished with 11 points apiece for the Mustangs while Chloe Pulido added 10 more and Emma Davis eight points and 10 rebounds.
“The whole team played a well-rounded game,” Middletown head coach Daryl Dacosta said. “There are some little things that we still need to clean up, but as a whole, it was a good game.”
Added Dacosta, “Ally Cherry had a great night contributing on both sides of the ball. Chloe Pulido had a great night controlling the tempo of the game. Emma Davis and Jolene Holley were both huge for us on the boards.”
Holley pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with four points.
Carly Gleason’s eight points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals led the Knights (3-5, 7-8). Gabby Keyes added seven points, three rebounds and two steals, and Brooke Poff had five points and eight rebounds.
Middletown’s JVs play a non-league game Tuesday at Piner before resuming league play at home Friday against Lower Lake.
In other NCL I girls action Tuesday:
Lower Lake 43, Fort Bragg 30
At Fort Bragg, Irianna Milano’s 11 points and eight apiece from Olivia Guralas and Mary Watson lifted the Lower Lake Trojans to a road win against the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Lower Lake (6-3, 9-9) took early control of the game with an 11-2 first quarter.
“Got back to taking care of the basketball tonight and limited turnovers,” Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said. “Defense played another good game, and everyone contributed and played well tonight.”
Lily Milano had six points for the Trojans, who travel to Middletown on Friday to play the first-place Mustangs.
In the JV game, Lower Lake doubled up Fort Bragg, winning 52-26 behind 14 points from Eden Sparks and 12 from Darleen Benefield.
“Almost every girl on the team scored tonight and even those who didn’t were important for moving the ball around,” Lower Lake head coach Jessica Lackowski said. “We’re hoping to use what we’ve learned tonight to improve for the last few games.”
Lexi Mitchell added nine points to Lower Lake’s winning effort.
The Trojans are 6-2 in league and 13-5 overall.
Upper Lake 56, Clear Lake 36
At Lakeport, Rylee Zimmerschied scored 19 points, including three 3-pointers, while teammates Alyssa John and Aimee Schaefers added double-doubles as the Upper Lake Cougars (5-4, 15-6) bounced back above the .500 mark in league play with a win over the Clear Lake Cardinals (3-6, 8-13).
John added 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and 11 rebounds while Schafers had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
“The girls figured it out by playing both offense and defense as a team,” Upper Lake head coach Raelene Cromwell said. “We were winning loose ball battles and the offensive and defensive boards.”
Added Cromwell, “They moved the ball around great. They showed patience and were able to drain those outside shots.”
Faith McIntire’s 16 points and 12 rebounds powered the Cardinals. Amelie Davis added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Kam Cresto had five points and five rebounds.
Upper Lake outscored Clear Lake 26-11 in the third quarter to open up a 46-30 lead.
Upper Lake hosts Cloverdale on Friday while Clear Lake travels to Fort Bragg.
In the JV game, Clear Lake beat Upper Lake 61-24 to improve to 7-1 in league and 15-2 overall.
“Tonight was a great night for the team,” Clear Lake head coach Tony Farrington said. “We moved the ball well, played great defense, and focused on the small things such as not fouling, finding open shooters, and running a smart transition game where we made our layups and shots from the free-throw line.”
Added Farrington, “Each played was able to get some significant floor time, and this was the first game of the season where every player put points on the scoreboard.”
Macie Snyder led the Cardinals with 17 points, Hailey Perez finished with 12, Aleeya Bondi and Cali Albaum each had eight, and Camara Wittman and Ava Gamble had six apiece.
Upper Lake scoring was not reported. The Cougars are 2-6 in league play.
