LOWER LAKE >> Lower Lake High School basketball coach Tim Biasotti said he was proud of the way his Trojans fought back against defending league champion Willits on Tuesday night, which he pointed out was not characteristic of Lower Lake teams in previous seasons.
“These guys don’t quit and I’m proud of them for that,” Biasotti said following the Wolverines’ 56-45 thumping of the Trojans. But then again you have to wonder how could they quit something when they never really got started?
Apparently missing a wake-up call the Trojans snoozed through the first half of their seventh North Central League loss of 11 outings. The loss was a big blow to Lower Lake’s postseason chances as they fell to 10-13 with only three games left.
“It will be tough,” Biasotti acknowledged.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, kept their hopes for a 20-win season and winning another league title alive. The win upped Willits NCL I record to 8-3, two games behind leader Cloverdale (10-1). To win a third straight league crown the Wolverines would have to run the table in their last three games and get some help from other teams.
In a game they desperately needed to win, the Trojans came out flatter than the Nebraska skyline.
By halftime they trailed 38-15.
“It says a lot when you give a team a 24-point lead and don’t quit,” Biasotti said.
Especially after the Trojans went 0-for-8 in bringing the ball down the floor in the second quarter.
To the Trojans’ credit, they did make a game of it in the third quarter, outscoring the Wolverines 16-6. Dustin Martin, one of the best 3-point shooters in Lake County, gave the locals — those few in attendance — something to cheer about in the second half after a dry second quarter during which Lower Lake didn’t get a field goal until James Clark rung one up with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the period.
Martin followed by meshing four treys in the second half en route to a 13-point game.
Even so, he was outclassed in perimeter shooting by Willits’ Anthony Sorace, who had six treys and 20 points overall. As a team, the Wolverines had nine three-point field goals.
“Funny thing is,” said Willits coach Duane Nelson, “Anthony’s not even our shooter. Number 24 (Ryan Hosford), the guy who missed all the shots tonight, is. But he couldn’t hit his rear with both hands. You can quote me on that.”
