LOWER LAKE >> Four in a row and forward they go.
Kyle Ellis scored 22 points with five 3-pointers on Tuesday night to lead the first-place Kelseyville Knights to a 61-57 North Central League I victory over the Lower Lake Trojans in varsity boys” basketball action at Lower Lake.
Kelseyville”s fourth straight league win keeps the Knights (4-1, 12-4) in no worse than a tie for first. They entered play Tuesday tied with Cloverdale and Willits at 3-1.
While Kelseyville”s stock is soaring these days, Lower Lake (2-3, 7-9) has dropped three in a row since opening league play with back-to-back wins. Those losses were, in order, to Cloverdale, Willits and now the Knights.
“My boys played hard and it wasn”t for a lack of effort,” Lower Lake coach Tim Biasotti said. “Scott has them (Knights) playing very well,” he added of Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad.
The Knights sank nine 3-pointers to the Trojans” three.
“We didn”t ID their shooters early enough and it cost us,” Biasotti said.
Brandon Huber added 17 points and Victor Fernandez had nine for the Knights, who had several players at less than 100 percent.
“We were really sluggish early and did a good job fighting through it,” Conrad said. “Lower Lake beat us up on the boards but we were able to scratch out a win.”
Jerod Alexander”s 14 points led the Trojans while Ian Stiles and James Clark each had 11.
“My boys never quit on me and that”s all that I ask,” Biasotti said.
Ellis had eight rebounds and five assists to go along with his 22 points. Austin Farris came off the bench to score four key points.
“He may have been the difference,” Conrad said of Farris. “Those four points were big and he created a lot of turnovers.”
