CLOVERDALE — Five games in a row and six games in seven days caught up to the Clear Lake Cardinals on Thursday, right about the time the second quarter began in their 77-42 loss to the Cloverdale Eagles in North Central League I varsity boys basketball action at Cloverdale.

Clear Lake (8-4 league, 12-8 overall) was right there with Cloverdale (13-1, 23-1) through the first quarter, trailing only 12-11, but the Eagles ran away from the Cardinals — figuratively and literally — as the second quarter opened.

"When they started running and hitting 3s, we were a step behind," Clear Lake head coach Mike Damiata said. "Six games in seven days finally caught up to us. We're physically and mentally exhausted."

Cloverdale outscored Clear Lake 30-12 in the quarter to take a 42-24 halftime lead.

Ethan Maize led the Cardinals with 12 points and Zane Robinson had 11.

The Cardinals completed their regular-season schedule in third place in the NCL I standings and will find out Sunday where they have been seeded, who they're playing and where in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs beginning Tuesday.

"This game is meaningless," Damiata said of the Cloverdale loss. "It only could have helped us, it won't hurt us."

Cloverdale also won the junior varsity game, 72-48.

"It's not easy playing six games in seven days," Clear Lake head coach Shady Cerezo said. "Hopefully next season is going to be normal."

Peyton Portlock led the Cardinals in their season finale with 18 points. Dayne Wilson added 11.

In other boys action Thursday:

Sonoma Academy 34, Upper Lake 29

At Upper Lake, with the NCL II's recent decision to count only the second half of the league schedule in determining this year's champion, the Upper Lake Cougars could have secured a piece of the title with a win over Sonoma Academy in the regular-season finale for both teams, but the Coyotes rallied down the stretch to beat the Cougars.

Upper Lake had a 21-19 lead going to the fourth quarter.

"It went back and forth and we got a little tired," Upper Lake head coach Miles Hayes said. "It's on us. A couple of calls didn't fall our way. We had our chances."

Sammy Avalos and Kyle Grandi led the Cougars (4-6, 11-10) with 10 points apiece.

"It was a grinder game for sure," Hayes said. "The kids battled the whole way and played hard. I can't ask for more than that."

The Cougars are in contention for an at-large berth in next week's North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs and will learn on Sunday if they've qualified and, if they do, who and where they will be playing in the first round Tuesday.

Sonoma Academy won the JV game 64-43. Nicolas Barnes' 15 points led the Cougars and brother Jonathan Barnes had 10. Both are freshmen.

Kelseyville 58, Willits 36

At Kelseyville, beginning a stretch of three straight home games to complete the regular season, the Kelseyville Knights let Luke Watkins do his thing in the first half against the Willits Wolverines.

"It was the Luke Watkins show in the first half," Kelseyville head coach Oscar Lopez said.

Watkins scored 19 of his team-leading 24 points in the first half, 13 of them in the first quarter alone, as the Knights improved to 7-5 in league and 11-10 overall. Four of his five 3-pointers came in the first half.

"We rode the hot hand," Lopez said. "By the time the second quarter started, other guys started to chip in a bit."

Manny Acosta had eight points, including two 3-pointers. The Knights connected 10 times from behind the 3-point arc.

Lopez said he had a quiet night on the bench for a change as the Knights rolled out to a 35-16 halftime lead.

"It was nice, but a little awkward," Lopez said.

Kelseyville hosts St. Helena on Friday and Middletown on Saturday to complete its league and regular-season schedule.

The Knights are in the running for an at-large berth in the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs. The field will be set Sunday.

There was no JV game because of COVID-19 protocols.

Middletown 57, RUP 30

At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs honored seniors Brody Breeden, Cole Ketchum, Lucas DaCosta, Roberto Chaires, Zach Dubois and Luke Hoogendoorn before taking the court and beating Roseland University Prep in NCL I action.

Middletown's Luke Hoogendoorn releases a shot underneath the basket against Roseland University Prep. Hoogendoorn was one of six Middletown players honored on senior night. (Photos by Bob Minenna)

Middletown (11-1 league, 19-3 overall) closes out league play and the regular season Saturday in Kelseyville where the Mustangs need a victory to secure some share of the NCL I title. Cloverdale (13-1) plays at Willits on Saturday in its finale. On Sunday, Middletown will find out where it has been seeded in the North Coast Section Division 4 playoff field. The Division 4 playoffs are scheduled to open Wednesday. Cloverdale competes in Division 5, which opens postseason play Tuesday.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 14-2 lead against RUP only to watch the Knights close to 14-12 by the end of the first quarter.

"They hit a bunch of 3s near the end of the quarter and just like that it was 14-12," Middletown head coach G.J. Rockwell said.

Middletown's defense limited RUP to 18 points the rest of the way.

"We played good defense," Rockwell said, citing the strong play of starters Lucas DaCosta and Luke Hoogendoorn and reserve Wyatt Moore. "DaCosta had a lot of steals and stops for us."

Middletown's offense came in spurts as the Mustangs struggled a bit from the field.

Brody Breeden shoots a free throw in Middletown's 57-30 win over Roseland University Prep on Thursday night in Middletown. Breeden scored 17 points.

"There was a lid on the rim for us and the kids were frustrated," Rockwell said.

Ketchum led the Mustangs with 22 points, Breeden added 17 and DaCosta 10.

Middletown used a big second half to defeat RUP 67-42 in JV action. The Mustangs went to halftime leading only 33-30.

Oscar Cruz scored 12 of his 19 points over the final two quarters for Middletown while Brandon Costlow had 10 of his 19 in the second half. Bodhi Moore and Jackson Conley finished with nine points apiece.

Thirty of RUP's points came on 3-pointers.

"They were cracking them from everywhere on the court, and not just one guy," Middletown head coach Jake Diehl said of RUP's shooters. "Six of their guys made at least one."

The Mustangs extended their defense in the second half to better cover the Knights, who also cooled off from the field.