SANTA ROSA — Two road games in two nights took its toll on the Upper Lake Cougars in the second half Saturday night of a 61-50 loss to Rincon Valley Christian in a non-league varsity boys” basketball game in Santa Rosa.
“We had no legs in the second half,” Upper Lake coach Forrest Stogner said.
Upper Lake (5-18) took a 22-16 lead into halftime only to watch Rincon Valley (14-9) get hot from the field in the second half.
“Shots that we had been contesting in the first half we were a step slow getting to in the second half,” Stogner said.
Suiting up only six players didn”t give Stogner much maneuverability, esp-ecially since the same six recorded a lot of court time Friday night in a 59-53 loss at Willits.
“And Rincon Valley is quicker than hell,” Stogner said.
Tyler Warren”s 20 points powered the Cougars, who will play their final three games of the season with just the six players.
“I can”t call anyone up from the JVs because they”re down to six players, too,” Stogner said.
Warren also had eight rebounds and two blocks.
“He played a great game,” Stogner said of Warren, who was 8-for-11 from the free-throw line. “It”s one of the best games he”s played in a while.”
Mike Cox pulled down 10 of his team-leading 13 rebounds in the first half for the Cougars. He also finished with eight points and five blocks.
Stephen Fisher”s 18 points, 14 of them coming in the second half, rallied Rincon Valley Christian.
Upper Lake hosts Clear Lake tonight in NCL I South action.
