KELSEYVILLE >> Cloverdale’s in-you-face press and man-to-man defenses slowed down the Kelseyville Knights enough on Saturday in the girls’ championship game of the 44th annual Stokes Basketball Tournament in Kelseyville.
While the Knights put up a good fight, they fell 40-33 to the Eagles, who repeated as Stokes champions.
“We did plenty of good things,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said, “but we had a lot of open looks that we weren’t able to convert.”
The two teams were tied at 21-all at halftime and Cloverdale carried just 30-27 lead into the final period.
“It was a pretty physical and fast-paced game,” Hale said. “I thought both defenses played really well.”
The difference was Cloverdale’s Angel Bernardi, named the tournament MVP. She finished with a game-high 22 points, 13 of those in the first half.
“We just let her get loose a few too many times,” Hale said.
All-Tournament selections Riley Goff and Payton Conrad led the Knights with 13 points apiece. Carli Mendonca pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds and Alma Perez led Kelseyville with five steals.
Kelseyville (3-1) returns to action Thursday against Langston Hughes of Stockton in the opening round of the Stevenson Tournament in Pebble Beach.
Upper Lake 54, St. Helena 44
In the Stokes third-place game, the Upper Lake Cougars spread around the offense for the first time this season and beat the St. Helena Saints.
While All-Tournament selection Natalie Karlsson led the Cougars with 20 points, Brenna Sanchez added a season-high 12 points and nine rebounds, Kejhana Taylor had eight points and a team-best 13 rebounds, and Jessica Arroyo also had eight points.
“Arroyo hit 3-pointers at the start of each of the first two quarters that really relaxed everybody on the team,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said.
Sanchez and Taylor dominated the boards, according to Smith and limited the Saints’ second-shot opportunities.
Upper Lake led 30-21 at halftime and 43-36 through three quarters.
The Cougars (3-2) went 2-1 in the tournament, much to the delight of Smith.
“To come away with two wins, I’m very happy,” Smith said.
Upper Lake’s lone loss was to eventual champion Cloverdale.
“I think we grew as a team,” Smith said of playing against larger schools. “It helped us.”
Upper Lake returns to action Wednesday against Anderson Valley in the opening round of the Potter Valley Tournament at 3 p.m. The Cougars play again on Friday and Saturday in the tournament.
