MIDDLETOWN — A Middletown team that relies on its defense to grind out win after win added a new dimension to its game Wednesday night in a 68-40 victory over the Kelseyville Knights in North Central League I varsity boys basketball action at The Barn in Middletown.

The Mustangs (6-1 league, 15-4 overall) shot the heck out of the ball, which was a welcome sight for Middletown head coach G.J. Rockwell.

"They got into a rhythm tonight and moved the ball really well," Rockwell said of the Mustangs. "We shot the ball well and got a lot of points in transition. When you pair that with really good defense and rebounding, things are going to work in your favor."

The Mustangs scored 19 points in each of the first three quarters while hitting a season-high seven 3-pointers. Three starters scored in double digits, led by Brody Breeden with 21 points, as did reserve Wyatt Grothe (10 points). Cole Ketchum and Lucas DaCosta added 12 points apiece.

"They shot the lights out," Kelseyville head coach Oscar Lopez said of the Mustangs. "For some reason, they shoot the ball well when they play us. Middletown forced us into a lot of turnovers."

Lopez said he was especially impressed with the play of Breeden.

"Breeden had his mid-range jumper going. He really didn't score that many points in the paint against us," Lopez added. "I don't think he missed many."

Kyle Watkins led the Knights (3-4, 7-9) with 10 points while older brother Luke Watkins, a real thorn in Middletown's side when the two teams played in the Stokes Tournament championship game in mid-December at Kelseyville (a 49-44 Middletown win), had only eight.

"They really dialed it in on him," Lopez said of the attention Middletown's defense paid to shutting down Watkins.

Middletown led 19-8 after one quarter, 38-21 at halftime and 57-33 through three quarters.

"My senior core group played really well, my guards played really well," Rockwell said. "It was one of those games everyone was a factor. We needed it."

Middletown faces a big challenge Friday when it travels to Cloverdale to play the undefeated Eagles, who improved to 10-0 in league play and 20-0 overall with a 70-56 home win Wednesday against St. Helena. Cloverdale held off Middletown 49-45 in the first league meeting between the two teams Jan. 13 in Middletown.

"They're a very good team and we've got to come ready to play," Rockwell said.

Middletown returns home Saturday as part of a four-game set against the Willits Wolverines. Kelseyville hosts Clear Lake on Friday before hitting the road Sunday to play Willits.

Junior varsity

In junior varsity action Wednesday, the Middletown Mustangs answered a 7-0 Kelseyville run to open the game with a 15-0 run to end the first quarter, and went on to beat the Knights 51-27 in NCL I action.

While Middletown got off to a bad start, the Mustangs quickly shook it off, according to head coach Jake Diehl, who said that is one of the things he loves about his 2021-22 team.

"They show a lot of character," he said. "When things aren't going their way, they don't bury their heads, they press on, believe in the system, believe in each other."

Middletown's defense all but choked off Kelseyville's outside shooting game, according to Diehl.

"They had 11 3-pointers against Cloverdale, so our emphasis was eliminating those threes," Diehl said. "We allowed only three or four."

Oscar Cruz, a sophomore post, had another big night for the Mustangs with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

"He turned it on," Diehl said. "He's a gamer. When stuff gets tough, he gets tougher."

Brandon Costlow added 12 points and six assists in the win while Dom Williams had eight points and six steals.

"They rely on each other, it's just good basketball," Diehl said.