LOWER LAKE >> Taking the court with a different starting five out of necessity, the Lower Lake Trojans couldn’t keep pace with the Clear Lake Cardinals, who scored 70 points over the final three quarters in a 79-70 victory in the North Central League I finale for both of these varsity boys’ basketball teams on Tuesday night in Lower Lake.
Playing their first game since senior center Jerod Alexander was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons following the team’s loss to Cloverdale on Thursday, the Trojans (10-4 league, 14-11 overall) struggled on defense, especially in the paint.
“It changes the dynamic of the team,” Lower Lake coach Shannon Tubbs said of the loss of his big man. “But hats off to Scott’s kids. They came in here and attackd the basket.”
Lower Lake led 20-9 after one quarter and still held a 41-35 halftime lead, but the Cardinals rallied with 44 second-half points.
“We were down 16 at one point but we didn’t quit,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said. “We battled and we ended up pulling ahead. It was a great game. Lower Lake played their butts off.”
Clear Lake finishes league play at 7-7 and the regular season at 15-11. The Cardinals will apply for an at-large playoff berth in the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs, according to De Leon. They won’t know if they’ve made it until Sunday.
Tanner Hutton, Max De Leon and Stevie Diaz led the Cardinals with 17 points apiece while Tyler Dore added 11 and Ryan Damiata 10.
For Lower Lake, Hokulani Wickard scored a team-best 19, Marlon Jones added 16, Ethan Watson had 12 and Jordan McGrath 11.
Clear Lake won the junior varsity game 62-48.
