UPPER LAKE >> Sophomore Kenny Hodges continues to get better and better for the Upper Lake Cougars.
“He’s really starting to get going,” Upper Lake High School varsity boys basketball coach Justin Dutcher said. “I have him for another two and a half seasons. I can’t wait.”
Hodges finished with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals on Monday night as the Cougars hammered the Esparto Trojans 78-43 in non-league action.
Upper Lake (3-5) took a 42-26 lead into the locker room at halftime before putting the game out of reach with a 24-6 third quarter.
“We tightened up the defense in the second half and came out in the third quarter and really shut them down,” Dutcher said. “They got their six points on two threes.”
Upper Lake just missed having five players score in double figures. Along with Hodges, Derek Pritchard finished with 14 points while Tim Beffa and Pancho Flores added 12 points. Isaiah Garcia added nine more.
Beffa also had five assists for the Cougars, who have won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
“We’re moving the ball well and our offense is starting to look pretty decent,” Dutcher said.
Upper Lake tries for a third win in a row tonight in Willits.
Upper Lake also won the junior varsity game as Hank Nevarez scored 12 points and Jason Johnson had 10 in a 53-21 victory. The JV Cougars are 5-3 on the season.
