PETALUMA >> One week ago the Upper Lake Cougars were picking up steam in their pursuit of a North Central League II varsity girls’ basketball championship. One week later they’re picking up the pieces.
A disappointing two-game road trip ended with a 38-27 loss to the St. Vincent Mustangs on Friday night in Petaluma, that coming on the heels of a 57-26 loss to Rincon Valley Christian on Tuesday in Santa Rosa. Upper Lake (7-3 league, 12-10 overall) beat both of those teams at home during the first half of its league schedule, including a 59-48 win over St. Vincent on Jan. 12 in Upper Lake.
St. Vincent made sure Upper Lake’s Natalie Karlsson had plenty of company all night, double-teaming the junior guard and playing a box-and-one around her while limiting Karlsson to a season-low six points, nearly 16 below her season average.
It’s only the third time in 22 games this season Karlsson hasn’t scored in double figures.
Even when she had open looks, Karlsson came up empty. Like most of her teammates, she struggled from both the field and the free-throw line where the Cougars went 3-for-16.
“St. Vincent is not an easy place to get your shot going,” Upper Lake coach Mike Smith said.
A loosely called game both ways created a lot of contact that seemed to benefit St. Vincent more than Upper Lake, according to Smith.
His young squad also has hit a bit of a wall as the 2015-16 regular season winds down.
“We want to get to 15 wins and make the playoffs,” Smith said. “That means winning three of our next four.”
And that won’t be an easy task given the Cougars still have a road game at Roseland Prep and a home game against undefeated league leader Sonoma Academy.
“I’ve never won there,” Smith said of Roseland Prep’s homecourt in Santa Rosa.
While most of the Cougars struggled on Friday night, not so sophomore center Brenna Sanchez, who finished with team highs of nine points and 11 rebounds.
“Brenna probably played her best game of the year,” Smith said. “She never came out of the game. She played every minute. She’s doing everything I can ask of her.”
Kejhana Taylor had six points for Cougars, who return home Tuesday against Calistoga.
Upper Lake did win the junior varsity game 24-20 behind 12 points from Delaney Love.
