UPPER LAKE — Kenny Hodges is Upper Lake High School’s new career points leader in varsity boys basketball.
Hodges, a senior and third-year varsity player, scored a season-best 34 points on Tuesday night to lead the Upper Lake Cougars to an easy 73-29 victory over the Technology Titans in non-league action at Upper Lake. In the process, he broke the old school record of 1,183 points held by former Cougars standout Antwan Jones (Class of 2002). Hodges now has 1,211 and counting.
The basket that pushed Hodges past Jones came in the first quarter.
“He got a steal and a breakaway layup,” Upper Lake head coach Justin Dutcher said.
Hodges scored 10 of Upper Lake’s 18 points in the first quarter as the Cougars moved out to an 18-10 lead. It was still a game at halftime with Upper Lake ahead 33-21.
“We woke up in the second half,” Dutcher said.
Upper Lake outscored Technology 24-8 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Hodges had nearly half of those points with 11 in the quarter.
The Cougars shut out the Titans 16-0 in the final period.
Hodges also led Upper Lake with 12 rebounds. Hank Nevarez contributed 15 points and a team-best seven steals to the victory.
The only Cougars who have scored more points than Hodges are Jennifer Bryant (1,274), a 1994 graduate; Natalie Karlsson (1,846), a 2017 graduate; and Laura Wilder (1,897), a 1994 graduate.
Upper Lake hits the road Saturday to play Mendocino in a non-league game.
