MIDDLETOWN >> Derek Pritchard led the way with 15 points and Jacob Kalawaia had 10, but the Upper Lake Cougars proved no match for the Ferndale Wildcats while dropping a 75-40 decision in non-league varsity boys’ basketball action on Saturday in Ferndale.
Isaac Nevarez, averaging better than 20 points a game for Upper Lake (10-5), didn’t make the trip up north because of a knee injury.
“When you’re missing a guy that everything runs through (on offense), that makes it kind of tough,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said. “Isaac pretty much runs our show.”
Ferndale led 20-8 after one quarter and 43-16 at halftime.
The Cougars visit Sonoma Academy tonight in North Central League II action. Dutcher said he didn’t know if Nevarez would be able to play.
In the junior varsity game Saturday, Upper Lake wiped out as much as a 13-point deficit to beat Ferndale 51-45 in overtime.
“In the fourth quarter we started making shots,” Upper Lake coach Vince Moran said of his team’s comeback.
Robert Neils buried a clutch 3-pointer and J.T. Claunch hit two crucial free throws down the stretch to force the overtime period, which Upper Lake controlled from the start.
Claunch and Nathan Snead finished with 10 points apiece while Neils had seven. The Cougars put their 4-0 league record on the line tonight when they visit Sonoma Academy at 5 p.m.
