LOWER LAKE >> The battle of underclassmen went to the Kelseyville Knights, 56-36, over the Lower Lake Trojans in North Central League I varsity girls’ basketball action on Friday night in Lower Lake.
In a game where only two of the 10 starting players were seniors, Kelseyville (4-0, 13-3) used a balanced scoring attack to win their fourth straight in league, good enough to keep them tied with defending NCL I champion Middletown atop the standings.
Alma Perez led the Knights with 12 points, Haleigh Meyer added 11, Riley Goff had 10 while Payton Conrad and Heidy Cano chipped in with seven apiece. For Lower Lake, Samantha Caires returned to the lineup after missing three games with a concussion and led the Trojans with eight points. Ashlynn Mock, Jolean Scarborough and Aleia Milano added seven apiece.
“They came out and played good basketball,” Lower Lake coach Bryce Brin said. “It’s hard to stop a team like that.”
“It was a great team effort,” Kelseyville coach Jim Hale said in reference to the balanced offense. “We wanted to execute team ball together and we did a great job tonight.”
Kelseyville used a 19-9 second quarter to open up 29-17 halftime lead. The Trojans cut it to 29-20 with a 3-pointer to open the second half, but Lower Lake was then called for a technical foul and the Knights sank both free throws.
“We could never get the momentum back after that,” Brin said.
Lower Lake is now 2-2 in the league standings and 10-6 overall.
Meyer also had 10 rebounds for a double-double. Carli Mendonca led the Knights with 11 boards.
Kelseyville hosts a four-game set against Clear Lake on Tuesday while Lower Lake travels to Willits.
