CLOVERDALE — The Lower Lake Trojans gave Cloverdale all it could handle for three quarters before bowing to the Eagles 68-44 in a North Central League I interlock varsity girls” basketball game on Tuesday at Cloverdale.
The Eagles held just a 43-41 advantage entering the final period.
“I was not at all disappointed in the way we played,” Lower Lake coach Jim Salmina said. “The kids played hard, no doubt about it. We did everything to get a win.”
Cloverdale pulled away with a 22-6 fourth quarter.
“We ran out of gas in the fourth,” Salmina said. “Their bench is a little deeper than ours and they”re a little more experienced. They”re just a good team.”
Whitney Edens led the Eagles (12-2) with 27 points and Laura Furlong added 18. The two players combined to score 16 of Cloverdale”s points in the fourth quarter.
Veronica Wilder and Jonesha Beasley scored 15 points apiece to pace the Trojans (10-5). Katie Swalve led the team with eight rebounds and Wilder had six assists.
The Trojans face another tough test on Friday night when they return home to play the St. Vincent Mustangs (10-1). Junior varsity action starts at 6 p.m.
In other girls” action Tuesday:
Kelseyville 52, Upper Lake 22
At Upper Lake, Skyler Olsen”s 15 points and 11 each from Ashley Mueller and Sarah Johnson propelled the Kelseyville Knights to an easy win over the Upper Lake Cougars.
The Knights (8-5) almost had a fourth player in double figures as Kendra Schwegerl finished with nine points.
Upper Lake (6-9) continued to struggle on offense, scoring just 11 points in the first three quarters.
“Nineteen of our 22 points came from our posts,” Upper Lake coach Donnie Meri said. “I don”t think we hit a shot from outside 13 feet.”
Kelseyville opened the game in a man-to-man defense but quickly switched to a zone against the cold-shooting Cougars.
“Once they did things went downhill from there,” Meri said.
Katherine Edmonds” six points paced Upper Lake.
Kelseyville travels to Esparto for a non-league game tonight. Upper Lake hosts Middletown on Friday.
Middletown 40, Clear Lake 33
At Middletown, coming off their worst game of the season ? a 52-9 loss to Cloverdale on Saturday ? the Middletown Mustangs bounced back behind Jenny McGee to beat the Clear Lake Cardinals.
“McGee is our leader,” Middletown coach Marnin Pyzer said. “She makes the team go, she”s the motor. She got some penetration and took some good shots. She gives us a good game every night.”
McGee finished with 15 points and Alexis Rockwell chipped in another nine as Middletown improved to 3-11.
Haley Tallman anchored Middletown”s defense, according to Pyzer.
“I really respect the Reynolds girl,” Pyzer said of Clear Lake”s top shooter, senior guard Katie Reynolds. “Tallman held her to eight points and that was pretty important. She did a great job on defense.”
Rylie Gabehart also had eight points for the Cardinals (4-8).
Clear Lake travels to Fort Bragg on Friday while Middletown hits the road to play Upper Lake. Junior varsity action at both locations begins at 6 p.m.
JV basketball
Cloverdale 57, Lower Lake 21
At Cloverdale, the undefeated Cloverdale JV girls improved to 14-0 with a lopsided victory over the Lower Lake Trojans.
“Best team I”ve seen all year,” Lower Lake coach Ray Silva said. “Full-court, man-to-man pressure the whole game. They were awesome. What else can I say?”
Shadae White”s six points paced the Trojans.
“Sara Sanders handled the full-court pressure really well,” Silva said.
