POTTER VALLEY — The Upper Lake Cougars didn”t score a single point in the second half Thursday against the Point Arena Pirates and still won going away, 29-5, in a second-round varsity girls” game at the Potter Valley Tournament.
But here”s the thing. There wasn”t a second half.
In a game called because of a major-league disagreement between coach and official late in the second quarter, the Cougars stood around while the Point Arena coach, who had just been whistled for back-to-back technical fouls, pulled his team off the floor and left the gym.
“He was arguing a traveling call,” Upper Lake coach Don Meri said of the bizarre occurrence, something Meri, a veteran coach, said he has never seen before.
“I”ve thought about what I”d do in his situation,” Meri said. “I”m gonna pray to God I don”t do that.”
After picking up a technical for disputing a traveling call on one of his players, the Point Arena coach said something else to a game official and received a second technical.
“He wasn”t screaming and jumping up and down,” Meri said of the first technical foul. “It was mild.”
As for the second technical, Meri said he couldn”t hear the exchange between coach and official. “He (Point Arena coach) told me outside the gym he told the official, ?That was weak,”” Meri said.
Following the second technical, which came with about 90 seconds left in the first half, the Point Arena coach said, “We”re packing it up and we”re going,” Meri said. “And that”s what he did. He shook my hand on the way out.”
Playing man-to-man defense in the first quarter, the Cougars (4-5) built a 19-2 lead.
Yessica Ayala scored 11 points to lead the Cougars and hit their only 3-pointer. Felicia Valdez added seven points.
“You hate to go over and play a half of basketball, but a win”s a win,” Meri said.
Upper Lake, a winner of three straight, will meet either Potter Valley or St. Bernard on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
In other girls” tournament action Thursday:
Kelseyville 50, John Swett 15
At St. Helena, playing each other in the Silver Oak Tournament for the third straight season, this year”s meeting was all Kelseyville as the Knights rolled to a 50-15 victory in first-round action.
“We lost to them in the semifinals last year and beat them for the championship two years ago,” Kelseyville coach Caitlin Andrus said of John Sweet, which is in a rebuilding mode this season.
Skyler Olsen scored 20 points in limited playing time for the Knights, who emptied their bench after outscoring John Swett 16-0 in the first quarter.
“She didn”t miss many shots and she only played in the first and third quarters,” Andrus said.
Morgan Shannon had eight points for Kelseyville, which will find the going more tough tonight at 7 p.m. against Rincon Valley Christian.
“They”re real good,” Andrus said of the Eagles.
While Thursday”s game held little excitement, the Knights did what they needed to do, according to Andrus.
“We ran through some plays and everyone got significant playing time,” Andrus said.
Benicia 55, Clear Lake 32
At St. Helena, Clear Lake dropped a first-round game to Benicia in the Silver Oak Tournament.
“They ran the same offense and same press as we do, it was interesting,” Clear Lake coach Jennifer Goff said. “But we had too many turnovers.”
Clear Lake (2-6) hung tough for a quarter and trailed 18-11 after the opening period. Benicia pulled away in the second quarter and led 32-15 by halftime.
Briana Butcher”s 10 points paced the Cardinals, Katie Reynolds added nine and Jessica Asbury had six.
“Reynolds and Butcher played well,” Goff said. “We”re seeing the good and trying to improve on that,” she added.
Clear Lake plays either St. Helena or San Rafael today at 5:30 p.m. in the consolation semifinals.
Lower Lake 75, Tulelake 52
At Durham, Veronica Wilder and Jonesha Beasley scored 21 points apiece as the Lower Lake Trojans routed Tulelake in the first round of the Durham Tournament.
The 75 points was a season high for the Trojans (6-2), who led 22-14 after one quarter.
“We came out pressing them and did really well,” Lower Lake coach Jim Salmina said. “We took the press off in the second quarter and went back to it in the third quarter.”
The Trojans took a 50-37 lead into the final period.
“Tulelake tried to press us,” Salmina said of a fourth quarter in which the Trojans added another 25 points, nine of those by Wilder.
Beasley was credited with five steals on the Lower Lake stats sheet but it was probably closer to 12, according to Salmina.
“She did a great job on defense,” Salmina said. “She was all over the place.”
The Trojans also received solid play off the bench from Mayra Nava and Katreena Galindo, according to Salmina.
Galindo scored nine points, all on 3-pointers, and Nava added six points and four assists.
“They both did a really good job,” Salmina said.
“It was a great team effort, which is what we”re shooting for,” Salmina added. “If the team has success the individual success will follow.”
Lower Lake plays Orland today at 12:30 p.m.
In the junior varsity division, Lower Lake beat Tulelake 48-44 behind 15 points from Kelsie Shoffeitt, 10 from Shadae White and nine from Danacka Whittington. Sara Sanders added 11 assists.
“Janiece LaValley played strong defense off the bench and also scored six points for us,” coach Ray Silva said.
Tulelake battled back from a 31-18 halftime deficit to make a game of it.
Lower Lake plays Orland today at 9:30 a.m.
