PRINCETON >> Skylar Orozco got her groove on from beyond the 3-point arc and the Upper Lake Cougars were the beneficiaries Saturday as they beat Round Valley of Covelo and Big Valley of Bieber to win the Princeton Basketball Tournament championship at Princeton High School.
Upper Lake (5-0) hammered Round Valley 58-27 in the semifinals early Saturday afternoon before routing Big Valley 60-21 a few hours later in the finals. Orozco, voted the tournament”s MVP, had the hot hand in both games, scoring 17 against Round Valley and 15 against Big Valley. She had five 3-pointers in both wins.
Natalie Karlsson and Jojo Augustine each had 10 points in the win over Round Valley while LaShaye Taylor led the Cougars with 22 points against Big Valley.
Karlsson, who had 18 assists between the two wins, joined Orozco and Augustine on the All-Tournament team.
Defensive pressure was the key in both victories, according to Upper Lake coach Mike Smith.
“We kept the defensive pressure up in both games,” Smith said. “And when Skylar starts hitting, that extends the other team”s defense out and opens things up inside for us.”
In other girls” tournament action Saturday:
Kelseyville 67
El Molino 38
At Kelseyville, Riley Goff”s 24 points, including three 3-pointers, powered the Knights to a big win over the El Molino Lions in the third-place game of the 43rd annual Stokes Invitational.
Kelseyville (2-2) used a 22-3 fourth quarter to blow the game wide open.
Carli Mendonca added nine points while Alma Perez and Mary McAllister had eight points apiece.
“Mendonca stepped up for a sophomore and played well,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said.
Goff and McCallister were named to the All-Tournament team.
Lower Lake 71
Calistoga 44
At Kelseyville, Sammi Caires scored a team-best 17 points to lead the Lower Lake Trojans to an easy win over Calistoga in the Stokes consolation championship game.
Gabby Jauregui added 12 points, Vanessa John had nine and Aleia Milano eight as the Trojans improved to 2-1 on the season.
A 20-4 third quarter put the game out of reach. Seven different Trojans scored in the period.
Jauregui was named to the All-Tournament team.
Clear Lake 44
Sutter 40
At Colusa, All-Tournament selection Aliza Atkins scored 12 ponts while Taylor Helms led the way with 16 points as Clear Lake defeated Sutter in the consolation championship game of the Colusa Tournament.
Jasmine Rice also finished in double figures for the Cardinals (3-1) with 10 points, including a 17-foot jumper late in the fourth quarter that pushed Clear Lake”s lead to six. Atkins hit five free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Clear Lake trailed 24-20 at halftime but used a 12-4 third quarter to push in front to stay.
JV girls
Clear Lake 60
Live Oak 20
At Colusa, tournament MVP Valerie Hutton scored 30 points and the Clear Lake Cardinals rolled past Live Oak to win the JV championship game at the Colusa Tournament.
Corin Alakszay added 10 points and Camille Donald had eight for the Cardinals (4-0). Kiana Richardson joined Hutton the All-Tournament team.
