KELSEYVILLE >> Still working on finding the right combination of players are the Kelseyville Knights, not that you would know it from the scoreboard on Thursday as the 45th Stokes Invitational Basketball Tournament tipped off at Kelseyville High School.
Kelseyville beat Technology of Rohnert Park 80-37 in a first-round game and will face South Fork tonight at 6 p.m. in the winner’s semifinals.
“We had good energy, but we’re still trying to figure out who we are and what we’re doing a little bit,” Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad said. “We’re trying to find that balance of getting our key guys in sync while still getting enough minutes for our reserves to get ready.”
The Knights did a pretty good job of that on Thursday as 11 of their 14 players cracked the scoring column, led by 17 points and seven rebounds from Kyle Ellis, 16 points and seven rebounds from Logan Barrick, and 12 points and five assists from Trey Conrad.
In other varsity boys action Thursday:
Rancho Cotate 57, Upper Lake 40
In a game Upper Lake led 22-18 at halftime, the Rancho Cotate Cougars rallied in the second half to beat those other Cougars from Lake County.
“We battled and battled and battled, but we hit the wall late in the third quarter and it was like someone hit the light switch,” Upper Lake coach Justin Dutcher said.
Rancho Cotate outscored Upper Lake 23-10 in the third quarter to open up a 41-32 lead.
“I really can’t complain,” Dutcher said. “When you play a school of 1,400 and stick around with them the whole game, that’s all I can ask.”
Kenneth Hodges led the Cougars (0-2) with 12 points, including three 3-pointers. Sal Sanchez added another eight points.
Clear Lake 64, Sonoma 58
Max De Leon scored 26 points and Ryan Damiata tossed in 21 as the Clear Lake Cardinals outscored Sonoma Valley 16-10 in the final period to break a 48-all tie through three quarters.
Austin Davis came off the Clear Lake bench to score six points and it was his steal late in the game that sealed the victory.
“He (Davis) had a lot of energy and played some great defense,” Clear Lake coach Scott De Leon said.
T.J. Marcks had nine points for the Cards, who play Rancho Cotate today at 3 p.m.
