BOONVILLE — Kyle Coleman scored 24 points and Jayce Meri added six points and a team-high 10 rebounds as the Upper Lake Cougars held on to beat host Anderson Valley 61-60 in the first round of the Redwood Classic Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night in Boonville.
The Cougars (2-0) struggled at the free-throw line but were still able to hold off the Panthers.
“We would have won by 12 if we could have hit our free throws,” Upper Lake coach Forrest Stogner said. “We struggled at the line big time.”
Upper Lake took a 49-44 lead into the final period.
Dalton Steptoe (11 points) and Quinn Womachka (10 points) joined Coleman in double figures. Steptoe also had nine rebounds.
The Cougars play either International or Tule Lake on Friday at 8 p.m.
In other action Wednes-day:
Middletown 54, Esparto 38
At Esparto, Tyler Hunt”s 24 points and 16 rebounds powered the Middletown Mustangs to a season-opening win over Esparto.
Middletown led only 39-35 going to the fourth quarter but outscored Esparto 15-3 in the final period, hitting 11 of 14 free throws.
Dustin Peterson added 10 points and Sam Fiddler had eight for Middletown.
The Mustangs play St. Bernard tonight at 7 p.m. in the first round of the St. Helena Tournament.
