UKIAH — Veronica Wilder poured in 24 points and April White also had a big night for the Lower Lake Trojans, 70-52 winners over the Ukiah Wildcats in the opening round of the Willits Tournament at Willits High School.
Lower Lake (1-1) plays Healdsburg tonight at 7 p.m. in the winner”s bracket semifinal round. Healdsburg beat Lower Lake 57-35 on Monday in the Trojans” season opener at Healdsburg.
“I”m really happy with our play tonight,” Lower Lake coach Jim Salmina said.
Wilder went 8-for-9 from the free-throw line on the night as the Trojans built a commanding 35-17 halftime lead.
“Veronica Wilder works her tail off,” Salmina said of his senior guard who also had six assists and seven rebounds. “She”s a blue-collar worker that kid.”
White finished with nine points, nine rebounds, five steals and three blocks.
“We brought some energy,” Salmina said. “I told them to let it go and they did.”
Jonesha Beasley contributed 18 points to Lower Lake”s win, Amber Daniels added nine and Kelsie Shoffeitt, still nursing a sore ankle, came off the bench to score seven, five of those in the second quarter.
“She gave us a spark,” Salmina said. “And she”s still not 100 percent. She”s one of those kids who could start for us.”
In other girls” action Thursday:
Round Valley 55, Upper Lake 37
Round Valley”s size and speed proved to be too much for the Upper Lake Cougars in the opening round of the Upper Lake Tournament.
Roseland Prep defeated South Fork 48-47 in the other varsity game of the round-robin competition.
“They could shoot and they were big and fast,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said. “They got us on the boards early and we were fighting an uphill battle against a 20-point deficit in the second half.”
Katherine Edmonds sparked the Cougars (1-1) with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight steals. Kelsey Pearl added eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Round Valley led 33-18 at halftime.
