LOWER LAKE >> No one ever said it would be easy, not that the Lower Lake Trojans and coach Shannon Tubbs mind one way or another. Following a 2013-14 season during which the Trojans struggled mightily in every game they played, the 2014-15 team is so far enjoying a journey that has it alone in first place in the North Central League I standings with three weeks left.
Lower Lake increased its lead atop the standings on Friday night with a 56-52 overtime home victory over the St. Helena Saints, one of its closest pursuers in league play. Lower Lake’s win coupled with Cloverdale’s 76-70 victory over Kelseyville leaves the Trojans, now 8-0, with a three-game cushion over three different 5-3 teams — St. Helena, Kelseyville and Clear Lake — as the league race enters the homestretch.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Tubbs said after his team’s latest win, which featured 14 points from Marlon Jones, 13 from Garrett Chernoh, including three 3-pointers, and nine from Ethan Watson. “We’re not celebrating yet.”
Lower Lake travels to Clear Lake tonight for a 5:30 p.m. game.
In other JV boys’ action on Friday:
Cloverdale 76
Kelseyville 70
At Cloverdale, trailing 28-12 after one quarter, the Kelseyville Knights fought back to make a game of it against the Cloverdale Eagles.
Trey Conrad and Ean Valenzuela scored 16 points apiece for the Knights (5-3), Matt Wotherspoon added 12 and Nate Carpenter had 11.
After falling behind by double digits in the opening period, Kelseyville came roaring back with a 22-7 second quarter. Randy Pfann scored all seven of his points in the quarter and also had three big assists, all of them setting up three 3-pointers by Wotherspoon.
“It was crazy wild,” Kelseyville coach Rich Facey said of the first half.
Clear Lake 72
Willits 34
At Lakeport, Max De Leon had his 3-point shot working and that’s always good news for the Clear Lake Cardinals, who ran over the Willits Wolverines.
De Leon finished with five treys and 26 points overall as Clear Lake improved to 5-3 in league play and 16-4 overall. Tanner Hutton added 20 points and Cameron Borg had nine.
Tomales 48
Upper Lake 44
At Upper Lake, Robert Neels’ 21 points, including five 3-pointers, couldn’t save the Upper Lake Cougars from a NCL II loss to the Tomales Braves.
Girls
Kelseyville 41
Cloverdale 35
At Kelseyville, Rachael Linnell led the way with 15 points, Linda Baqleh added 11 and Tymeka Green had six as the Kelseyville Knights rallied to beat the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I action.
Kelseyville trailed 13-5 after one quarter but had a 19-15 lead by halftime.
Lower Lake 32
St. Helena 21
At St. Helena, Shayna Pike’s 10 points helped the Lower Lake Trojans improve to 6-2 in the NCL I standings as they beat the St. Helena Saints.
Vanessa Hughes added seven points in the Trojans’ win.
Tomales 35
Upper Lake 33
At Upper Lake, Brenna Sanchez scored 15 points but the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the Tomales Braves in NCL II action.
