POTTER VALLEY >> Natalie Karlsson did what all good point guards do when they’re having an off night shooting the ball; they pass it to someone who isn’t.
Karlsson collected a team-high nine assists while still leading Upper Lake with 22 points as the Cougars overwhelmed the Anderson Valley Panthers 56-27 in the opening round of the Potter Valley Tournament on Wednesday afternoon in Potter Valley.
Karlsson, who has scored 20 or more points in all six of the Cougars’ games, failed to sink a 3-pointer for the first time all season.
“She recognized her shot was not working and distributed the ball very well,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said of his talented junior. “I was really happy with the way she handled it.”
Karlsson’s unselfishness helped two other Cougars — Brenna Sanchez and Kejhana Taylor — reach double digits in the scoring column. Sanchez, a sophomore center, finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Taylor added 10 points. Karlsson also had seven rebounds.
“Taylor had some good looks (at the basket) and nailed them,” Smith said.
Upper Lake (4-2) was in control from the start and continued to build on its lead the entire way. The Cougars led 41-19 after three quarters.
Next up for Upper Lake is a winner’s semifinal-round game on Friday against either Round Valley or Laytonville at 3 p.m. Final-round games are Saturday.
In the varsity boys’ bracket on Wednesday:
Anderson Valley 56, Upper Lake 48
The Upper Lake Cougars couldn’t recover from a 20-3 first quarter although they still managed to make a game of it against the Anderson Valley Panthers in first-round action at the Potter Valley Tournament.
“We couldn’t hit water if we fell out of a boat,” Upper Lake head coach Justin Dutcher said of Upper Lake’s ice-cold start from the field and free-throw line in the opening period. “We were missing wide-open layups, easy putbacks. It was almost comical at times.”
The Cougars came back with a 15-6 second quarter to make it an eight-point game at halftime, but they were never able to make a serious run at the Panthers in the second half.
“Losing Isaac hurt,” Dutcher said of Isaac Nevarez, who was coming off a 34-point game in the Cougars’ previous outing. “He went up for a layup and took a really hard foul. There’s going to be a pretty good bruise on his back. He missed the last minute of the first half and the third quarter before returning, but he wasn’t close to 100 percent.”
It was Upper Lake’s first loss of the season after three straight wins.
Isaiah Garcia led the Cougars with 12 points, Nevarez finished with 11 and Sal Sanchez had 10.
Upper Lake plays the loser of another first-round game between Archbishop Hannah and Laytonville in the consolation semifinals on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
