UPPER LAKE >> The post-Natalie Karlsson era opened Monday night in Upper Lake … one that varsity girls basketball head coach Mike Smith said he knew was coming sooner or later. It arrived in the form of a 27-18 non-league victory over the Anderson Valley Panthers on the Cougars’ home floor.
“They’re good girls, coachable and they’re gonna definitely improve,” Smith said. “But we’re also going to take a few on the chin.”
Karlsson, now a freshman for the College of the Siskiyous women’s basketball team, scored 1,846 points (second on Lake County’s list of career scoring leaders) in four varsity seasons for the Cougars. Replacing that kind of offense is impossible, so the Cougars (1-0) are going to have to be creative in their scoring this season, according to Smith, who expects veteran center Brenna Sanchez to lead the way.
“She definitely sealed the deal with some good post play in the fourth quarter,” Smith said of Sanchez, who scored six of her team-leading 10 points in the final period. Sanchez struggled early on as did all of the Cougars, according to Smith.
“We missed nine free throws in the first half,” Smith said. “We had a height advantage on them and we weren’t getting buckets, but we were getting to the line. We just couldn’t hit a free throw to save our lives.”
Upper Lake trailed 12-5 at halftime but outscored Anderson Valley 22-6 the rest of the way to secure its first win of the 2017-18 season.
“We kind of loosened up in that second half and started to hit some shots,” Smith said.
Backup point guard Cheyanne Obedoza came off the bench to kick-start the Upper Lake offense during a 10-2 third quarter, scoring four of her five points in the period.
“She hit a couple of buckets to get us going,” Smith said.
Julia Mooney, Alana Sanchez and Delaney Love finished with four points apiece. Alana Sanchez led the Cougars with eight rebounds.
Upper Lake’s next scheduled game is home against Potter Valley on Nov. 30 in the opening round of the Upper Lake Tournament. Smith said the Cougars are trying to schedule a game next Monday at Anderson Valley but details have yet to be worked out.
In junior varsity action Monday, Anderson Valley defeated Upper Lake 30-23 despite 12 points and a pair of 3-pointers from Mallory Henry.
“They looked good, definitely rough around the edges,” Upper Lake first-year coach Nick Williamson said of his team’s season debut. “We had good hustle and there were a lot of bright spots, just not enough this time.”
Upper Lake (0-1) is off until Dec. 7 when the Clear Lake JV Tournament opens in Lakeport.
“That will give us a couple of weeks to practice all the things we need to be doing better,” Williamson said.
