KELSEYVILLE >> Looking up at the Lower Lake Trojans in the North Central League I standings most of the season, the Kelseyville Knights much prefer their current view; tied for first place.
Kelseyville pulled even with Lower Lake in the league race on Friday night with a resounding 78-57 victory at Kelseyville High School. It was the Knights’ first win in three meetings against the Trojans this season and the first game played between the two on Kelseyville’s home floor.
Both teams carry 9-3 league records into the final week of the season. Kelseyville hosts Willits tonight and closes it out Thursday in St. Helena. Lower Lake plays at Middletown tonight and finishes at home Thursday against Fort Bragg.
“We really spread it around,” Kelseyville coach Rich Facey said of a diversified Knights offense that featured four players in double figures and nearly a fifth. “Our shooting percentage in the first half was pretty high.”
Logan Barrick led the Knights with 17 points, Ean Valenzuela was right behind with 16, Nate Carpenter finished with 12 points, Matt Wotherspoon had 11, and Trey Conrad chipped in eight.
“Logan Barrick played the best game he’s played all year,” Facey said of the sophomore who finished with a double-double that included 13 rebounds.
Valenzuela also had a double-double as he pulled down a team-best 14 boards.
Kelseyville led 42-27 at halftime.
“They played one heck of a game tonight,” Lower Lake coach Shannon Tubbs said. “Kelseyville just came with a better game plan than we did.”
Marlon Jones led the Trojans with 20 points but the Trojans struggled from the field most of the night.
“We were just 19-for-75,” Tubbs said.
Garrett Chernoh and Tate Smith added 13 points apiece as Lower Lake, once undefeated in the league standings at 8-0 and owners of a three-game lead, lost for the third time in four games.
Kelseyville improved to 18-6 overall.
In other JV boys action Friday:
Upper Lake 48
Calistoga 27
At Upper Lake, Robert Neels led the way with 15 points and the Upper Lake Cougars beat the Calistoga Wildcats in NCL II action.
JT Claunch added 12 points in the victory while Nathan Sneed had 10.
The Cougars close out their season schedule with three games this week — they’re home against Rincon Valley Christian today at 5 p.m., host against Sonoma Academy on Wednesday at 5 p.m., and hit the road Thursday against St. Vincent at 5 p.m.
Girls
Lower Lake 59
Kelseyville 22
At Lower Lake, Vanessa Hughes outscored the Kelseyville Knights all by herself on Friday, pouring in 23 points in the Trojans’ NCL I victory.
Shayna Pike added seven points as Lower Lake improved to 8-4 in league play.
