LAKEPORT >> What a difference a season makes.
Through 19 games in 2014-15, the Upper Lake High School varsity boys’ basketball team was still looking for its first win. Through 19 games in 2015-16, the Cougars are 12-7 after making quick work of the Tomales Braves, 76-45, in North Central League II action on Friday in Upper Lake.
“It was the best first half of basketball we’ve played all season,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said of his team’s 40-18 halftime lead. “We came out and pressed and it’s the best defensive game we’ve ever played. The kids were really into it and we were clamping down on defense.”
Isaac Nevarez led the Cougars, now 5-3 in league play, with 27 points, 15 of those on 3-pointers. Isaiah Garcia added 16 points, Cody Rybolt had 10 and Tim Beffa contributed nine in the lopsided victory.
“We were up 10-0 in the first minute,” Dutcher said.
Upper Lake led 67-29 through three quarters.
In other boys’ action Friday:
Cloverdale 65,Clear Lake 57
At Lakeport, Jayson McMillan’s 22 points powered the Cloverdale Eagles to a hard-fought win over the Clear Lake Cardinals in NCL I action.
“I don’t like to lose, but I’m OK with competing and playing well and we did that tonight,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said.
Clear Lake (3-5, 11-9) stayed within range but McMillan’s strong play down the stretch was the difference, according to De Leon.
“He hit some huge shots in the second half and pulled down a lot offensive boards,” De Leon said.
Clear Lake lost by 24 points to Cloverdale in their first league meeting in Cloverdale earlier this month.
“I thought we played great basketball tonight,” De Leon said. “It was a competitive game and we competed.”
Tyler Dore’s 13 points and nine rebounds led the Cardinals. Max De Leon added 12 points and seven rebounds, Tanner Hutton finished with 12 points, and Ryan Damiata contributed eight points and nine rebounds.
Girls’ basketball
Cloverdale 60, Clear Lake 46
At Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Eagles used a 19-5 third quarter to wipe out a 28-23 halftime deficit and beat the Clear Lake Cardinals in NCL I action.
Taylor Helms led Clear Lake (4-4, 11-8) with 14 points.
M’town 60, Lower Lake 45
At Lower Lake, the Middletown Mustangs remained a game behind Kelseyville (8-0) in the NCL I standings with a victory over the Lower Lake Trojans.
Middletown (7-1, 15-5) used a 28-point, 11-rebound performance from Ashlyn Welton to sweep the two-game league series from the Trojans. Emily Lescher added 12 points, Kaleigh Alves had nine and Makenzi Smith contributed eight points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
“We played a pretty good first half on both ends,” Middletown coach Anthony Bazzano said.
Middletown led 20-11 after one quarter and 33-17 by halftime.
Lower Lake (2-6, 10-10) lost its fifth in a row in league play despite 15 points from Samantha Caires and 14 from Ashlynn Mock.
”That’s pretty much been the problem all year,” Lower Lake coach Bryce Brin said of his team’s first-quarter woes. “The second half wasn’t much better. We shot the ball a lot better in the second half.”
