WILLITS >> There is no such thing as just another league game when you’re battling for a championship.
Taking nothing for granted on Tuesday night as his Trojans hit the road to play the out-of-contention Willits Wolverines in North Central League I varsity boys’ basketball action, Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said his squad was focused on the task at hand while beating Willits 59-42.
Lower Lake’s victory sets the stage for a first-place showdown on Thursday night in Cloverdale where the winner will clinch a tie for the NCL I title and be in prime position to claim the outright championship with a victory in its league finale next Tuesday.
“When you put yourself in this position, these are the games that you look forward to,” Tubbs said. “You don’t want to be playing for second place at the end of the season. This is basically for all the marbles.”
Lower Lake (10-2, 14-9) is gunning for its first league title since 2004. No Trojans squad has come closer since then and that elusive prize is one trip to Cloverdale and one win away. Lower Lake prevailed in the first meeting between the two teams, beating the Eagles 52-40 on Jan. 22 in Lower Lake.
Against the Wolverines, back-to-back league champions in 2013 and 2014 under coach Duane Nelson, the Trojans trailed 27-23 at halftime but quickly took control of the game in the second half.
Switching from a zone to a man-to-man defense took away Willits’ outside shot — the Wolverines hit six 3-pointers in the first half but only one in the second.
In fact, Lower Lake’s defense put the clamps on the Wolverines over the final two quarters inside and outside, limiting them to 15 points.
“When they decide to play defense it’s a beautiful thing,” Tubbs said of his players.
Lower Lake outscored Willits 22-7 in the third quarter to take a 45-34 lead into the final period.
“We slowed the game down in the second half and pounded it inside,” Tubbs said. “That opened up things for us inside and outside.”
Sophomore point guard Hokulani Wickard led the way with 26 points and has 84 in his last three games. Jerod Alexander added 12 points and Ethan Watson came off the bench to score nine, all on 3-pointers.
“We have so many shooters they can’t double down on him (Wickard),” Tubbs said.
The Trojans had nine 3-pointers in all, four by Wickard.
After Cloverdale, the Trojans return home to play Clear Lake in their league finale.
