WALNUT CREEK — The road agrees with the Lower Lake High School varsity girls” basketball team early into the 2006-07 season.
Behind 13 points from Danielle Bettencourt and 12 from Amber Shoffeitt, the Trojans parlayed strong first and fourth quarters into a 45-36 win over John Swett of Crockett in the opening round of the four-team Berean Christian Tournament at Walnut Creek.
The Trojans (3-1), who improved to 3-0 on the road, play tournament host Berean Christian tonight at 6 p.m. in the championship game.
Lower Lake scored 18 points in the first quarter for an 18-10 lead but struggled in the middle quarters, netting a combined 10 points. But a 17-point fourth period enabled the Trojans to gain some breathing room.
“The game had an up-and-down tempo, which we like, but it was also very physical,” Lower Lake coach Andrew Carpenter said.
The physical part of the game cost Lower Lake the services of center Passion Allen, who got into early foul trouble that landed her on the bench much of the second half. Megan Mucks and Shana Morris came off the bench to replace Allen and turned in solid efforts, according to Carpenter.
“They did a nice job filling in,” Carpenter said.
In other girls” action Friday:
Analy 49, Kelseyville 38
At Sebastopol, host Analy outscored Kelseyville 15-4 over the final 3:24 to break open a dead-even game and beat the Knights in the second round of the six-team Analy Tournament.
With the score knotted at 34, two Kelseyville turnovers led to two quick Analy baskets and the Tigers moved in front 38-34. They added a 3-pointer seconds later to go up 41-34.
Analy was running out the clock in the final seconds when a Tigers player decided to pull up for a 3-pointer, which she made, as time ran out. The play didn”t sit well with the Knights (0-2) or coach Jim Salmina, who voiced his displeasure after the game.
“He (Analy coach) said he talked to her and that she”s a freshman (and didn”t know any better),” Salmina said. “I don”t care.”
Other than the final three minutes, Salmina said his defense turned in a strong effort, including holding the Tigers to two points in the third quarter.
Lauren Nixon”s 15 points and 21 rebounds powered Kelseyville (0-2).
Piner 59, Middletown 45
At Sebastopol, Kayla Welton scored 18 points and Ali McGee had 10 in Middletown”s loss to the Piner Prospectors in a second-round game at the Analy Tournament.
“We were pretty much in the game until the middle of the fourth quarter,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said. “We just have to learn to be consistent the whole game.”
Piner led 22-19 at halftime.
Julia Leathers had eight points for the Mustangs (0-3).
Clear Lake 43, St. Helena 24
At Colusa, a 14-2 fourth quarter propelled the Clear Lake Cardinals to an easy win over the St. Helena Saints in the consolation semifinals of the Colusa Tournament.
Clear Lake”s offense got off to a slow start ? neither team scored until midway through the first quarter ? but began to pick up steam in the second half.
“Overall we looked pretty good,” Clear Lake coach Jen Goff said of the Cardinals” performance.
Brittany Rumfelt”s 15 points paced the Cardinals (2-1), Julie Jackson added 10 and Kaila Sterbank had seven.
