FORT BRAGG >> Despite shooting just 18 of 70 (26 percent) from the field, the Lower Lake Trojans fought through it on Tuesday night against the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in a North Central League I junior varsity boys’ basketball game at Fort Bragg.
Marlon Jones led the way with 20 points as the Trojans prevailed 43-40.
“We just had a tough night shooting the ball,” Lower Lake coach Shannon Tubbs said. “We struggled all night but still found a way to win the game.”
The victory gives Lower Lake, now 7-0 in the league standings, a two-game lead over its two closest pursuers, the 5-2 Kelseyville Knights and St. Helena Saints, at the midway point of the NCL I race.
Jordan McGrath had six points for the Trojans, who were only 3-for-20 from behind the 3-point stripe.
In other NCL I boys’ action Tuesday:
St. Helena 70
Kelseyville 66
At Kelseyville, the Kelseyville Knights led 42-33 at the half but the St. Helena Saints rallied for the win after converting 19 of their 25 attempts from the free-throw line.
“That was the difference,” Kelseyville coach Rich Facey said.
The loss leaves both teams at 5-2 in league play and two games behind league leader Lower Lake (7-0) at the halfway point of the NCL I race.
Not even Trey Conrad’s 24 points, including six 3-pointers, could save the Knights. Ean Valenzuela added 14 points, Nate Carpenter had 10, Logan Barrick eight and Matt Wotherspoon seven.
Dylan Martin’s 21 points paced St. Helena.
Middletown 36
Willits 24
At Willits, Ricardo Chaires’ 11 points lifted the Middletown Mustangs to a league win over the Willits Wolverines. Thomas Cook added nine points.
Cloverdale 76
Clear Lake 70
At Cloverdale, in a high-scoring shootout, the Clear Lake Cardinals fell to the Cloverdale Eagles despite 22 points from Max De Leon and another 20 from Tanner Hutton.
Clear Lake is now 4-3 in league play.
Ryan Damiata (12 points) and Cameron Borg (10 points) also scored in double figures for Clear Lake.
St. Vincent 53
Upper Lake 37
At Upper Lake, Robert Neils led the way with 14 points and Nathan Sneed added nine but the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the St. Vincent Mustangs in NCL II action.
Girls
Kelseyville 29
St. Helena 25
At St. Helena, two steals and two layups by Tymeka Green in the final two minutes made the difference as the Kelseyville Knights defeated the St. Helena Saints in NCL I girls’ play.
Linda Baqleh led the Knights with 10 points and Green finished with six.
Clear Lake 53
Cloverdale 45
At Lakeport, Valerie Hutton and Corin Alakszay scored 15 points apiece as the Clear Lake Cardinals remained perfect in league play (7-0) and on the season (19-0) with a hard-fought victory over the Cloverdale Eagles.
Camille Donald added 13 points.
The Cardinals return to action tonight in Willits at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Bragg 63
Lower Lake 59
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans dropped to 5-2 in the NCL I standings after falling to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Elizabeth Ingalls had a double-double for Lower Lake with 10 points and a team-best 17 rebounds. Shayna Pike led in scoring with 14 points and Vanessa Hughes had 13.
