LOWER LAKE — Joe Taylor scored 13 points and Kyle Buckingham pulled down nine rebounds in Lower Lake”s season-opening 53-41 loss to the El Molino Lions on Monday night in non-league varsity boys” basketball action at Lower Lake.
The Trojans (0-1) struggled from the field until the fourth quarter when they broke loose for 27 points.
“We were taking good shots, they just weren”t falling,” Lower Lake coach Marty Udy said of the first three quarters as the Trojans played themselves into a 38-14 hole. “In the fourth quarter they relaxed, played more like themselves. The points came in bunches. It was nice to see.”
Alex Toshich joined Taylor in double digits with 10 points.
Lower Lake opens the 2010-11 season minus its two returning All-Leaguers. Jaymen Richardson, a senior guard, sustained a torn ACL during the offseason and Gage Carlson is academically ineligible.
“Those are two huge losses and we have to adjust,” Udy said.
The timing of their season opener wasn”t great either, according to Udy, who said the Trojans last practiced a week ago because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We were rusty, slow getting out of the gate,” Udy said.
Lower Lake plays Oroville at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the opening round of the Durham Tournament.
