UPPER LAKE — Upper Lake High School varsity boys” basketball coach Forrest Stogner has reached the Promised Land that is .500.
Stogner”s Cougars held off a late charge by Middletown to beat the Mustangs 70-68 in a North Central League I interlock varsity boys” basketball game on Tuesday night in Upper Lake. It was the third consecutive win for the Cougars, who haven”t been at the .500 mark this late in a season during Stogner”s tenure as head coach.
In fact, the 2008-09 Cougars, now 7-7, are Stogner”s most successful team in his three-plus seasons at the school.
“I won six my first year and this is the most I”ve ever had in four years,” Stogner said.
Kyle Coleman scored a season-high 33 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five steals and three assists for Upper Lake, which nearly let an eight-point lead slip away in the final minute.
“We made two turnovers and missed some free throws,” Stogner said. “I had great free-throw shooters out there, but I think they just wanted to see me stress out a little more. In years past we would have blown that game.”
Upper Lake led 35-32 at halftime but Middletown took a 48-45 advantage into a high-scoring final period.
Stogner credited reserves Andrew O”Meara (eight points), Mike Dawson and Brandon Bills with helping the Cougars notch another victory.
“They gave us a big lift off the bench,” Stogner said.
John Hays had 15 points, Dustin Peterson added 14 and Johnny Harmyk and Daniel Anderson each had 11 for Middletown (5-9).
In other interlock action Tuesday:
Fort Bragg 71, Clear Lake 66
At Fort Bragg, the host Timberwolves snapped Clear Lake”s six-game winning streak despite 22 points by Ryan Richardson.
The Cardinals (11-5) were without Seth Glazier (illness) and Robert Anderson (injury), so they promoted Steven Edward from the junior varsity squad. He responded with 10 points in his varsity debut. Corey Dillon added 11 points and two blocks.
Fort Bragg led 32-30 at halftime and 55-46 going to the fourth quarter.
Cloverdale 72, Kelseyville 47
At Kelseyville, Robby Rowland”s 30 points propelled the Cloverdale Eagles past the Kelseyville Knights.
Nick Schaefer”s career-best 26 points paced the Knights, who stayed close to the Eagles until Mike Duman picked up his third foul late in the second quarter. Cloverdale began pulling away at that point and led 31-19 at halftime.
“We played a 2-3 zone to start the game hoping it would slow down their shooters,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “We played with them until about three minutes left in the half.”
Schaefer went 11-for-15 from the floor and was the only Kelseyville player to score in double figures.
“Thank God for that,” Conrad said. “He stuck some tough shots with Rowland right in his face.”
Mike Davis had nine points for Kelseyville.
St. Vincent 77, Lower Lake 33
At Lower Lake, it didn”t go very well in the first half and the second half was even worse for the Lower Lake Trojans in a lopsided loss to the St. Vincent Mustangs.
“No defense, no passion and no desire,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said in describing the Trojans” effort, especially in the second half when the Mustangs outscored his squad 31-8.
“We”ll see what we can do to regroup and try and get it together for league,” Udy said.
David Clark”s 11 points led Lower Lake, now 3-12 on the season.
St. Vincent led 46-25 at halftime.
