MENDOCINO — Trailing by 10 points at halftime and 14 points just two minutes into the third quarter, someone flipped the switch on the Lower Lake offense and defense Tuesday night in Mendocino.
As in flipped into the “ON” position.
Sparked by the play of point guard Anthony Lucchesi, the Trojans rallied for a 73-60 victory over the Mendocino Cardinals in a non-league varsity boys” basketball game on the Mendocino Coast.
“I told my guys from that point on that”s the best we”ve played all season,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said. “The transition game was the best we”ve had. We had numerous baskets off the transition game.”
On the defensive end, the Trojans (2-2) also picked it up & and then some.
“Our defensive intensity was times 10 from where we had been earlier in the game. The whole complexion of the game changed at that moment,” Udy said.
Lower Lake outscored Mendocino 23-14 in the third quarter to close to 48-47 by quarter”s end. The Trojans surged ahead to stay early in the final period and went on to win by a comfortable margin.
Lucchesi led the way as he made all seven of his shots — one from the free-throw line, four from two-point range and the Trojans” only 3-pointer.
“He went 7-for-7 shooting the ball and he had seven assists and four steals,” Udy said. “He was an integral part of the comeback.”
Lucchesi, one of four Trojans to score in double figures, finished with 13 points. Mike Deakins led the way with 17 points and A.J. Harris and Eric White each had 14.
Mendocino”s night started a lot better than it ended as the Cardinals led 18-6 after one quarter.
In other action Tuesday:
Piedmont 61, Kelseyville 27
At Piedmont, the Highlanders spoiled the season opener of the Kelseyville Knights and the debut of their new coach, former Kelseyville star Scott Conrad.
“We passed the ball terribly, which led to most of their points,” Conrad said.
“After 14 or 15 practices, we were itching for a game,” Conrad said. “We had some first-game jitters and maybe Piedmont wasn”t the best team for us to open against. We have a lot to work on.”
Sal Martinez and Isaac McQueen scored six points apiece for the Knights (0-1), who hit the road again on Thursday to play John Swett in Crockett. Kelseyville makes its Lake County debut on Monday against Upper Lake in the first round of the Record-Bee Hoop Classic at Lower Lake High School (see schedule on Page A9).
In girls” action Tuesday:
Mendocino 42, Lower Lake 40
At Mendocino, the Lower Lake varsity girls” not only lost a close one on the road to the Mendocino Cardinals, but they lost Passion Allen in the process.
Allen, the Trojans” senior center, dislocated her finger early in the fourth quarter after scoring her team-leading 12th and 13th points of the night to give Lower Lake (3-3) a 37-33 lead.
“She went up for a rebound and popped her finger right out of the socket,” Lower Lake coach Andrew Carpenter said. “It was pretty ugly.”
Allen was taken to a Fort Bragg hospital to have an X-ray.
“They (doctors) wanted to make sure it was not broken,” Carpenter said of Allen”s finger.
With Allen out of the game, the Lower Lake offense sputtered down the stretch and scored only three points.
“It”s not exactly how we wanted this road trip to turn out,” Carpenter said.
Even without Allen and starter Danielle Bettencourt, who sustained a hairline fracture of her foot on Monday in practice, the Trojans had their chances to win the game down the stretch.
“We forced two turnovers in the final 40 seconds and had a chance to tie the game each time, but we threw the ball away,” Carpenter said.
Amber Shoffeitt scored 10 points and Rissy Prude had nine for the Trojans.
The Trojans open play in the Durham Tournament on Thursday.
