UPPER LAKE >> Riley Goff scored 18 points for Kelseyville, but it was clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch by Jojo Augustine that lifted the Upper Lake Cougars to a 38-36 win over the Knights in non-league varsity girls” basketball action on Tuesday night in Upper Lake.
Augustine, held to just two points through three quarters, scored a basket and went 3-for-4 at the free-throw line in the closing minutes as the Cougars (2-0) held on for the victory, their first against another Lake County school in many years.
“It was a big win for us,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said. “We haven”t beaten another Lake County team in a long time, maybe not since the old county tournament.”
Jessica Arroyo”s four points off the bench, all in the fourth quarter, also gave the Cougars a big boost, according to Smith.
“Jessica did a great job contributing off the bench,” Smith said.
LaShaye Taylor”s 14 points powered the Cougars, who struggled against Kelseyville”s press defense early and trailed 11-9 after one quarter.
“We did a better job handling it in the second quarter thanks to Natalie Karlsson,” Smith said of his sophomore point guard.
Karlsson finished with eight points.
Heidy Cano and Mary McCallister added six points apiece for the Knights, who were making their season debut under new coach Jim Hale.
Goff, a sophomore guard, had to leave the game at one point with an ankle injury but later returned.
“I know that hurt them,” Smith said. “She was tremendous.”
Upper Lake returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. against Princeton in the opening round of the Princeton Tournament. Kelseyville (0-1) plays South Fork on Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the 43rd annual Stokes Invitational in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville beat Upper Lake in the junior varsity game 32-29. Isabel Rorabaugh had 12 points for Upper Lake. Kelseyville scoring wasn”t reported.
