El Molino Lions take one of three in Skip Cassady Classic tourney

Team is hopeful of improved league season
Hope is running high in the El Molino basketball camp this week following a competitive pre-league schedule that produced four victories, equaling the win total for the Lions all of last season.
At press time the Lions (4-10) were preparing to open Sonoma County League action at Petaluma on Jan. 5, followed by a Jan. 7 road trip to Piner.
El Mo played host at the inaugural Skip Cassady Classic Tournament on Dec. 28-30, an event that also included Healdsburg, Emery, DeAnza, Castlemont, Justin Siena, Elsie Allen, and St. Helena. The tournament is named for long-time supporter and 1983 El Molino alum Skip Cassady Jr.
The Lions opened the tourney with a 52-38 win over St. Helena, but fell in subsequent games to Healdsburg (47-31) and Elsie Allen (57-41). On Saturday, El Mo dropped a 77-45 decision at Kelseyville.
Lions take one of three
El Mo logged arguably its best game of the season in the Dec. 28 Skip Cassady opener against St. Helena, controlling the tempo from the start en route to a 14-point margin of victory (no stats reported).
The Lions fought an uphill battle against league rival Healdsburg in game two, as the Greyhounds jumped out to a 16-0 first-quarter lead.  Trailing 31-9 at the half, El Mo began to find the range after intermission but fell, 47-31. Jordan Kerkvliet led the attack with 13 points, while Eric Nils-Carlson chipped in eight for the Lions.
El Molino took on Elsie Allen in a battle for third place on Dec. 30 with neither team able to generate much offense in the first half. Up by four at the half, the Lobos busted it wide open with a 21-5 third-quarter run on their way to a 45-29 win. Kerkvliet earned all-tourney honors with a team-high nine points.
On Saturday, the Lions wrapped up pre-league play at Kelseyville, spotting the Knights a 48-22 lead at the half. The Lions cut the deficit to 14 in a strong third quarter, but Kelseyville powered to a 77-45 win. Pacing the El Mo offense were Kerkvliet (14 points), Nils-Carlson (12 points) and Kahleo Daly (10 points).