UPPER LAKE — For the second straight time, the Upper Lake High School varsity girls basketball squad landed all five of its starters somewhere on the All-North Central League II team, duplicating its 2020 feat.
And for the second straight time, Heaven’Lee Loans Arrow shared co-MVP honors, only this time it is with teammate Zoey Petrie.
Upper Lake won the outright NCL II championship in 2022, just as it did in 2020, behind the play of such stars as the junior Loans Arrow and the senior Petrie. Both players would likely be making a third straight appearance on the All-League team had not the 2020-21 campaign been wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joining Loans Arrow and Petrie on the All-League first-team squad are junior teammates Taylar Minnis and Maddy Young. Another junior, Madison Noble, earned second-team honors. Two years ago Petrie was a first-team selection, Young was honored on the second team and Noble was an honorable mention. Alana Sanchez, who has since graduated, also earned second-team honors for the Cougars back in 2020.
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our team and the acknowledgment of All-League status for all five starters is a testament to the dedication and heart of those amazing girls,” Upper Lake head coach Mike Smith said.
Upper Lake went 20-3 overall in 2021-22, that after a 22-6 season in 2019-20. With Loans Arrow, Young, Minnis and Noble all returning next season, the Cougars are in a good place entering the 2022-23 campaign, and they have a talented group of junior varsity players ready to move up to the varsity along with several younger varsity reserves ready to step up.
Other first-team selections on this year’s All-League team are freshman Ellie Stearn and junior Lael Gott of Sonoma Academy, seniors Harriet Reed and Orieanna Vincent of Credo, and seniors Bella Rodriguez and Alexa Pantoja of Tomales.
Joining Upper Lake’s Noble on the second team are senior Alysse Bennett of Technology, senior Shea McCauley of Sonoma Academy, senior Lhasa Gray of Credo, and senior Diana Padilla of Tomales.
Honorable mentions went to junior Liliana Cruz of Calistoga, junior Courtney Kroyer of Technology, and Roseland Collegiate Prep juniors Jesenia Banuelos and Victoria Robles.
The number of All-League players a team receives is tied to its number of league wins.
