KHS finds a way in 46-42 win
Knights prevail without Bryant scoring a point
LA ECOUNTY>> The Clear Lake Cardinals weren’t going to let Allison Bryant beat them in a North Central League I varsity girls basketball game played nearly a year ago today in Lakeport, so the Kelseyville Knights went to Plan B during a 46-42 victory over their archrivals.
Until the COVID-19-delayed 2020-21 sports season starts, the Lake County Record-Bee will take a look back at the local sports happenings of a year ago and the teams and athletes who were making the headlines.
Varsity girls basketball
After starting league play with three straight losses under firstyear coach Skyler Olson, the Knights’ victory over the Cardinals evened their league record at 3-3 while dropping Clear Lake to 4-2.
Bryant, Kelseyville’s top scorer all season, was held without a point by a tenacious Clear Lake defense, but the Knights found other outlets on offense, including a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds from Ryann Taylor, and 11 points and six rebounds from Sam Carter.
“We were not going to let Alli beat us,” Clear Lake High School head coach Phil Psalmonds said of Bryant, the Knights’ standout senior. “Sydney Howe was fantastic guarding her, frustrating her at times.”
“We walked in there knowing they were going to try and shut her out,” Olson said of Bryant. “I knew it was going to happen. I don’t want to be a part of a team that only relies on one girl and we had other girls step up tonight.”
Sierra Bruch’s 13 points powered the Cardinals.
In other varsity girls basketball action nearly a year ago today, Middletown (5-1) took over sole possession of second place in the NCL I standings with a 42-33 victory at Willits. Middletown’s de
fense held the Wolverines without a basket during a 20-4 first half dominated by the Mustangs.
Paige Astley just missed a double-double for Middletown with 12 points and nine rebounds while Sophie Kucer added eight points.
Varsity boys basketball
Lower Lake’s varsity boys heated up from long ran, scoring 12 3-point field goals in a 63-49 victory over the St. Helena Saints in NCL I action at Lower Lake.
It was the second straight league win for the Trojans after four straight losses to open their league schedule. Semaj Clark had six 3-pointers and 22 points overall to propel Lower Lake. Vann Wilkins added three more treys and 18 points overall.
In other varsity boys action nearly a year ago today, Clear Lake improved to 6-0 in the NCL I standings with a 71-31 win over Kelseyville in Kelseyville. The Cardinals’ victory set the stage for a first-place showdown with the 6-0 Cloverdale Eagles.
Kelseyville was at a distinct advantage with big man Joey Mendonca out of the lineup because of a sore back. Dominating down low, the Cardinals had a 38-18 lead by halftime and never looked back.
Jaron Mertle’s 13 points and 15 rebounds powered Clear Lake. Bodhi Baird led the Knights with 18 points.
Middletown (4-3) snapped a three-game league losing streak with a 56-30 home win over Willits, but it was a bittersweet victory as the Mustangs’ top player, Andres Cervantes, was ejected from the game after being called for a charge.
Sammy Cervantes led the Mustangs with 15 points, Jimmy Rockwell added 14 and Jorge Fonseca had 13.