LOWER LAKE — Fourteen in a row.
April White scored 13 points, including four key free throws down the stretch, and the Lower Lake Trojans continued their mastery of Lake County opponents with a hard-fought 43-34 victory over the Middletown Mustangs in the North Central League I opener for both of these varsity girls” squads on Tuesday night at Lower Lake High School.
Lower Lake has 14 straight victories against its other county foes, last losing to Kelseyville in the second game of the 2010 league season. The Trojans won their final five games against county competition during the 2009-10 campaign, posted a 5-0 mark last season and are 4-0 so far in 2011-12.
“The difference to me was April White,” Middletown coach Tony Hart said. “She came through when they needed her to (hitting four of six free throws in the fourth quarter). She did all the little extra things.”
“She”s a complete player,” Lower Lake coach Jim Salmina said of his senior captain, who also led the Trojans with 14 rebounds.
Danacka Whittington and Shadae White added eight points apiece as Lower Lake improved to 10-3 on the season. White also had both of the Trojans” 3-pointers.
Megan Farr”s 12 points, including two treys, powered Middletown (0-1, 3-9). Amber Hart added nine points.
“Then wanted it a little more than we did,” Hart said.
Lower Lake led 21-19 at halftime and 33-25 after three quarters.
“We were a little rusty, but our defense was nails,” Salmina said. “Any time you can hold a team to 34 points, you give yourself a chance to win and we”ve been doing that all season against some good teams.
In other girls” action Tuesday:
Clear Lake 41, Fort Bragg 30
At Fort Bragg, Kelcie Reynolds sank two technical free throws in the fourth quarter and Jessica Asbury hit a couple of key baskets down the stretch as the Clear Lake Cardinals, off since Dec. 10, returned to the court with a win over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in the NCL I opener for both teams.
“It was a pretty rough game, lots of contact, but that was fine,” Clear Lake coach Kory Reynolds said.
Clear Lake (1-0, 7-6) trailed 10-8 after one quarter but had a 21-17 advantage by halftime. The Cardinals gradually opened up their lead in the second half.
“In the second half we were a little more patient about our shots,” Reynolds said.
The Cardinals also made their free throws when it counted, going 6-for-8 in the final period.
“The kids are feeling pretty good,” Reynolds said.
Asbury finished with a team-high 12 points, Vanessa Tullos added eight and Morgan Psalmonds had six.
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Tomales 43, Upper Lake 32
At Upper Lake, the Tomales Braves built a 16-point lead through three quarters and beat the Upper Lake Cougars in NCL II action.
Upper Lake (1-1, 6-6) tried to make a run at Tomales in the fourth quarter after switching to a press defense, but simply ran out of time.
“We couldn”t hit our shots,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said. “I tried different combinations of players.”
Kat Edmonds finished with nine points to lead the Cougars and Amber McQueen added seven.
Willits 73, Kelseyville 26
At Kelseyville, the Willits Wolverines outscored Kelseyville 34-5 in the second quarter for a 56-13 halftime lead and cruised past the Knights in the NCL I opener for both teams.
Whitney Dunham”s 24 points paced the Wolverines, who scored 70 points in the first three quarters.
Dakota Rixen, Jeannie Johnson and Mandy Spitzer had five points apiece to lead the Knights (0-1, 2-7).
