SANTA ROSA >> It’s never dull when the Upper Lake Cougars visit the home gym of Roseland University Prep in Santa Rosa. It’s also never a win.
Upper Lake High School’s varsity girls, gunning for their first ever on RUP’s home floor, watched a 10-point lead with four minutes left evaporate as the Tigers rallied for a 35-34 victory on Friday night, a loss that knocks the Cougars (3-2 league, 10-8 overall) out of first place in the North Central League II standings.
“Just a heartbreaker,” Upper Lake head coach Mike Smith said. “I thought we had it. That is not a good place for us to play.”
Upper Lake made a series of bad passes and costly turnovers down the stretch that allowed RUP to climb back into the game.
“Credit to Roseland Prep,” Smith said. “You can’t give them any kind of room or they’ll make a run like that on you.”
Upper Lake’s post players had an awful night shooting the ball, according to Smith, going 3-for-27 from the paint.The only Cougar to score more than four points was Natalie Karlsson, who finished with 24, including four 3-pointers.
Upper Lake is off Tuesday night and returns to action Wednesday night in Petaluma against St. Vincent. The Cougars stay on the road next Friday to play Tomales.
