UPPER LAKE — Dillon Gonzales wasn”t around at the end. Neither was Kyle Coleman. And Brandon Mendoza wasn”t feeling well.
So with only 11 seconds remaining and the Upper Lake Cougars trailing Rincon Valley Christian 56-54 on Saturday night in Upper Lake, coach Forrest Stogner went to Plan D against the Eagles.
Unfortunately for Upper Lake, Cory Gonzales” two-point try rolled around the rim and out as time expired in the non-league varsity boys” basketball game at Upper Lake.
Coleman and Dillon Gonzales had fouled out by the time the game reached the latter stages of the fourth quarter, not that Rincon Valley Christian seemed to mind. The Eagles found their way to the free-throw line for 30 shots (making 19) compared to Upper Lake”s 9-for-11.
But while Stogner was certainly aware of the free-throw discrepancy, he said the Cougars (8-12) didn”t help themselves by missing six uncontested shots from point-blank range.
Upper Lake led 30-25 at halftime and took a 43-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
“This is my fourth season at Upper Lake and in my four years here I”ve never had a team play so disciplined a game,” Stogner said. “They listened and they played well.”
Dillon Gonazles” level of play over the last two games has been nothing short of incredible. Coming off a 31-point, eight 3-pointer night on Friday in a loss at Cloverdale, he scored 26 points with six more treys against the Eagles.
“If he would have still been around, he would have taken the final shot,” Stogner said of Dillon Gonzales, who also had eight rebounds and four assists.
Kyle Coleman made a strong run at a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Cory Gonzales finished with 11 points and three 3-pointers.
