Gaucho girls hold off late-charging Middletown

Casa Grande held off a fourth-quarter rally by visiting Middletown, and went on to post a 48-40 basketball victory Monday night.

Casa led for all but the two opening minutes, but found itself in a one-point game down the stretch with the highest scoring Middletown player on the free throw line and two shot attempts coming. The only problem for the visiting Lady Mustangs was that Ashlyn Welton was injured on a collision underneath and had to be helped to the bench. The junior center, who led all scorers with 16 points, was unable to shoot the free throws.

Middletown coach Anthony Bazzano selected Nicole Corsetti to shoot the important charity tosses, and she missed them both.

“It bothered me that our team might have to go back out there trailing after leading for so long,” said Casa coach Dan Sack. “The girls had played well enough to win. We knew that they would be a tough opponent because their AAU team plays in our tournament each season.”

Middletown came into the game holding impressive victories over Analy and Maria Carrillo.

With a one-point advantage at 41-40 and time running out, Gaucho senior Kayla Ryan drained a clutch 3-point shot from well behind the arc to bring the crowd alive, and give some breathing room for her club. Four Casa free throws closed out the game in the final seconds.

Casa Grande earned the win with a smothering match-up zone defense that forced poor passes and many off balance shots by the Lady Mustangs. The Gauchos led in the first half by as much as 12 points, and seemed ready to put a lock on things. They forced nine key turnovers in the first half.

“Our pressure defense was the difference tonight,” said Sack.

Sophomore guard Cassidy McKinney, a transfer from Middletown last season, found the range early, and connected for 13 points, including three shots from distance in the first half. At times, McKinney was lost on the weak side, and made the Mustangs pay with five-for-eight from the floor.

Middletown ran off seven unanswered points to pull within 23-18 at halftime.

“We were using a new zone offense,” said Sack. “The first pass was designed to begin movement, and they reacted as a zone. Cassidy was left open.”

McKinney cooled off in the second half, but interior player Joy Jovick delivered some key shots around the basket when the game got close. Jovick converted put backs and drove the baseline to keep the Casa offense alive. “That’s what she does,” noted Sack.

Jovick and McKinney finished with 15 points each for Casa Grande, while freshman Mia Cain came off the bench to add seven points.

Point guard Claire Killian was limited to only two points, but she did everything else to help her team win the game. Killian was the key defender at the top of the key, and she was able to trace the ball well and force many poor passing decisions by the Mustangs. On offense, she made the important first pass on almost every series to trigger the action.

The Lady Mustangs, picked to be a contender in the North Central League I this season, were hobbled with injuries as the game progressed. Corsetti and a teammate collided face-to-face and needed attention in the first half. Later, Welton went down at a key point in the contest, and she did not return. Middletown falls to 7-4 for the season.

On Saturday, the Lady Gauchos (4-1) return to action against Chico in the first round of the West Coast Jamboree. Casa will continue with two more games on Monday and Tuesday at Alhambra High School in Martinez.