UPPER LAKE — Trailing by double digits almost the entire way, the Clear Lake Cardinals couldn’t gain any traction against Upper Lake during a North Coast Section first-round girls basketball playoff game Tuesday night in Upper Lake.
The Cougars simply wouldn’t let them.
Behind 14 points apiece from Maddy Young (a career high) and Heaven’Lee Loans Arrow and 12 more from Taylar Minnis, the seventh-seeded Upper Lake squad notched its 20th win of the season with a 61-44 victory over Clear Lake in the opening round of Division 5 play, snapping the Cardinals’ six-game winning streak.
“We threw everything we know how to do against them but they were just the better team tonight,” Clear Lake head coach Phil Psalmonds said of the Cougars. “They shot the ball well and they made that one extra pass that was really effective. They worked the ball around the floor really well and they did a good job of attacking from the baseline.”
All five Upper Lake starters had their moments against a Clear Lake club that saw senior Sydney Howe (21 points) leave absolutely everything she had out on the court in her high school finale. She didn’t get a single rest break during the game while Upper Lake head coach Mike Smith strategically gave all of his starters short rests throughout the night to keep their legs fresh.
Psalmonds said he simply couldn’t afford to rest his star, especially with the way the Cougars were playing on Tuesday night.
“I needed her out there,” Psalmonds said.
And when Upper Lake’s starters did depart the floor, their replacements, including junior varsity call-ups Nya Marcks and Kali Minnis, weren’t just out there for show. Marcks banged in a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to give Upper Lake a 42-29 lead and Kali Minnis sank two free throws early in the fourth quarter to make it 47-33. Another varsity reserve, freshman Kilyah Whipple, also had two important points late in the second quarter.
Both teams were markedly improved from their last meeting, a 57-47 Upper Lake win in late November at Upper Lake.
“We’re a much better team than we were back then but they are too,” Psalmonds said.
“Back then we didn’t have Karlee (Zimmerschied), Maddy (Young) had a bad ankle, and we didn’t have those JV players (Marcks and Minnis),” Smith said.
Leading up to their playoff opener, the Cougars were able to schedule two non-league games against better quality opposition than they faced in the North Central League II this season, which they easily won easily. One of those two was a hard-fought road victory over a solid Piner High School squad.
“That Piner game was a big help getting us ready,” Smith said.
The Cougars wasted absolutely no time taking the lead against the Cardinals (13-10). Senior Zoey Petrie (seven points) scored on a driving layup for the first points of the game and Loans Arrow followed with the first of her four 3-pointers on the night, three of which came in the first quarter. When Upper Lake was hitting from the outside, Taylar Minnis and Maddy Noble (seven points) were doing damage inside against the Cardinals, who trailed 18-7 by quarter’s end.
“We couldn’t get her out of there,” Psalmonds said of Minnis’ presence down low. “She was super tough inside and that’s usually one of our strengths (on defense). Props to her for sure.”
Clear Lake made a brief run to get within seven — 24-17 — of Upper Lake, but the Cougars answered with a 6-0 run, Whipple getting the first two of those points, to push their lead back into double figures. And that would be a reoccurring theme in this one. Every time Clear Lake appeared to be on the verge of playing its way back into it, Upper Lake’s offense answered the call.
“They hit some big 3s,” Psalmonds said.
After Loans Arrow nailed her fourth and final 3-pointer of the night early in the fourth quarter to make it 50-37, teammate Young converted a three-point play on Upper Lake’s next trip down the floor, scoring and drawing the foul with 5:00 left. She added the free throw and it was pretty much over by that point.
“She had her career-high in points and did a good job. Clear Lake put its best defenders on Heaven and Zoey,” Smith said. “There was an opportunity for her and she took advantage, knocking down some big shots. She played a great game overall.”
Howe did everything she could to keep Clear Lake close.
“I thought Sydney Howe played an unbelievable game,” Smith said. “She was amazing. We made it tough for her and some of those baskets she made were not easy.”
Sierra Bruch added 11 points and Abby Mertle had six for the Cardinals, who made a concerted effort to work the ball down low in the second half, but with limited success.
“I moved Abby up high and tried to spread the court,” Psalmonds said.
Far from being displeased with his team’s effort, Psalmonds credited Upper Lake with executing its gameplan and doing what it needed to do to beat Clear Lake.
“They played hard,” Psalmonds said of the Cardinals. “They worked hard for me all season.”
Next up for Upper Lake is a quarterfinal road game against No. 2 seed Branson School (16-8), a 2-0 forfeit winner over The Bay School on Tuesday. Friday’s action tips off at 6 p.m. at Novato High School in Novato, with the winner advancing to the sectional semifinals Feb. 22 at a site to be determined.
