T'wolves stop Cardinals, win race
Fort Bragg's defense too much for Clear Lake; Cougars wrap up NCL II title
Fort Bragg's physical brand of lockdown defense achieved the desired result Tuesday night as the Timberwolves beat the Clear Lake Cardinals 4028 to clinch the undisputed North Central League I varsity girls basketball championship at Lakeport.
Fort Bragg (14-1) has won 14 straight league games since losing to Middletown in its NCL I debut. Clear Lake (12-3 league, 15-7 overall) needed a win to remain in the hunt for some share of the title. The Cardinals wrap up their league and regular season schedule Thursday at Cloverdale, an important game for both teams as they battle for second place in the final league standings.
“We just didn't play well,” Clear Lake head coach Phil Psalmonds said. “But all the credit to Fort Bragg. That's one physical, tough team.”
The tone for this low-scoring game was established early as Clear Lake led 5-4 after one quarter. Fort Bragg outscored the Cardinals 12-2 in the second quarter to go up 16-7 at halftime. The Timberwolves continued to pull away in the third quarter while limiting Clear Lake to a single point. It was 28-8 going to the final period.
“We competed but we didn't execute anything (on offense),” Psalmonds said. “Our defense played well. When you hold a team to 40 points that's above average for basketball.”
The Cardinals failed to land a player in double digits in the scoring column. Amber Smart, a junior guard, led the way with eight points, including a 3-pointer. After that the scoring fell all the way down to four points for both Abby Mertle and Rubi Ford, who were among the team's seniors honored prior to Clear Lake's final home game. Also honored were Sierra Bruch, Montana Wells and Maddy Brewster.
Clear Lake will advance to the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs next week as an at-large team. A win Thursday over Division 4 Cloverdale could help improve the Cardinals' seeding and
perhaps even earn them a home game.
“It might mean the difference between making a long trip somewhere and playing at home,” Psalmonds said.
Fort Bragg, by virtue of its status as league champions, will open the Division 4 playoffs at home. A year ago they lost in the first round at Middletown.
In the junior varsity game, Clear Lake used an 18-11 third quarter to pull away from and beat Fort Bragg 48-32.
In other girls action Tuesday:
Upper Lake 65, Technology 3
At Upper Lake, the host Cougars routed Technology to clinch a third straight NCL II championship while winning their 17th game in
a row.
Upper Lake also honored its seniors during the final home game of the regular season although at 24-1 overall, including a 13-0 league record, the Cougars stand to draw a high seed and play at least one more home game next week when the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs tip off.
The senior-loaded Upper Lake roster includes some of the program's mainstays, veterans such as Maddy Young, Taylar Minnis and Madison Noble. Other seniors include Karla Martin, Maddy Hayenga, Kat Geary-Lopez and Lupy Duncan-Monlo.
“It was a great night for the seniors,” Upper Lake cohead coach Annie PivniskaPetrie said. “The atmosphere was great. The crowd, the community are really behind us and we're excited about next week.”
Minnis, Noble, Young, Lopez-Geary and DuncanMonlo started the game with
Martin and Hayenga subbing in soon after the opening tip.
Upper Lake led 32-0 after one quarter and 45-2 at halftime. A running clock was used for the entire second half.
Thirteen different Cougars reached the scoring column. Jordann Gudmundson led the team with 12 points, Kali Minnis had 10, Ashlyn Rhodes seven and Noble, Young and Taylar Minnis six apiece.
Pivniska said she is hoping for at least a No. 4 seed in the Division 5 field when the playoff field is released Sunday.
Along with a 24-1 mark so far this season, Upper Lake went 20-3 last season and 22-6 in 2019-20. There was no 2020-21 season because of COVID-19. They are 29-1 in league play over that same stretch.
There was no JV game.
Middletown 60, Willits 19
At Willits, the Middletown Mustangs won their seventh consecutive game, routing the Willits Wolverines in NCL I action behind 24 points and a career-best six 3-pointers from sophomore Mia Hoogendoorn. Kamryn Atkins added 10 points, including the first 3-pointer of her career.
Middletown (12-3, 187) returns home Thursday against Roseland University Prep to close out its league and regular-season schedule. The Mustangs will advance to the NCS Division 4 playoffs next week as an at-large team. The playoff field will be set Sunday and Middletown will learn at that time who and where it is playing.
The Mustangs came out a bit sluggish against the Wolverines and led only 13-6 after one quarter.
“They (Wolverines) were making some shots and we came out flat,” Middletown head coach Roxi Holt said. “I changed some things and
from then on it wasn't close.”
Hoogendoorn made her first 3-pointer in the second quarter and caught fire from the field after that, according to Holt.
Amanda Hart had eight points in the win.
In the JV game, it was a tale of two halves as the Willits Wolverines, trailing 25-13 at halftime, outscored Middletown 25-10 in the second half to beat the Mustangs 38-35.
Harley Holley and Autumn Clark scored 12 points apiece to lead Middletown, but the two players combined for only six points in the second half. Caylee Sayler had six points.
Cloverdale 67, Kelseyville 26
At Cloverdale, the Knights have one more chance Thursday at Willits to avoid a winless league campaign. Their loss to the Eagles on Tuesday night dropped them to 0-15
in the NCL I standings and 1-24 overall.
Kelseyville stayed close to Cloverdale during a 14-9 first quarter, but the Eagles pulled away with a 23-1 second period.
“We played really well most of the first quarter but we didn't play as a team after that,” Kelseyville head coach Terry McIntire said.
The win keeps Cloverdale (11-3) in a virtual tie for second place with Clear Lake and Middletown, both 12-3. The Eagles have two games left — Thursday at home against Clear Lake and Friday at home against league champion Fort Bragg (14-1).
Trinity Vlasak's 14 points led the Eagles while Tylie Hatcher and Amara Galvan added 12 points apiece. Olivia Hommer had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Knights. Faith McIntire finished with seven points.
Cloverdale beat Kelseyville in the JV game (score not reported).