ST. HELENA >> The Lower Lake Trojans didn’t need overtime — or anything close to it — to beat the Berean Christian Eagles of Walnut Creek in the opening round of the Sutter Home Tournament on Thursday evening at St. Helena High School.
In the second meeting between the two teams in seven days — Lower Lake won 70-61 in overtime last Friday in Walnut Creek — the Trojans dominated the Eagles from the outset and led 19-5 after the opening period.
“We came out in the first quarter and played really good defense,” Lower Lake coach Bryce Brin said.
Burned by the likes of Lower Lake’s Samantha Caires and Aleia Milano in their first meeting, the Eagles went out of their way on defense to shut them down, according to Brin. The Trojans’ Ashlynn Mock foiled that strategy by scoring a team-best 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
“It really helps when you have all that firepower,” Brin said.
Milano still finished in double figures with 12 points and Caires added nine as Lower Lake improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Trojans had the game well in hand by halftime with a 34-14 lead.
Lower Lake draws Bay School of San Francisco in the winner’s semifinal round tonight at 7 p.m.
In other girls’ basketball tournament action Thursday:
K’ville 59, Langston Hughes 16
Even minus starting guard Riley Goff (out with a shoulder injury) and with Taylor Hale limited by an ankle injury, the Kelseyville Knights overwhelmed Langston Hughes of Stockton in the opening round of the Stevenson Tournament at Pebble Beach.
Goff is day to day for the Knights (4-1), according to Hale, who promoted sophomore guard Linda Baqleh from the junior varsity squad to give his roster a bit more depth. Baqleh responded with 12 points, tying Heidy Cano for the team lead. Payton Conrad and Haleigh Meyer added 11 points each.
Hale said the Knights received solid post play from Cano and Carli Mendonca, who finished with a team-high 15 rebounds (eight offensive, seven defensive) and six points.
“Our post play was really good tonight,” Hale said.
Kelseyville draws Bentley (3-3) of Lafayette today in the winner’s semifinal round at 3:30 p.m.
