CLOVERDALE — Upper Lake broke open a close game during the final four minutes and beat the Cloverdale Eagles 60-48 in non-league varsity girls basketball action Wednesday night in Cloverdale.
“Everyone just did their jobs,” Upper Lake co-head coach Annie Pivniska-Petrie said. “They understood their defensive assignments and what they needed to do on offense. The girls played real smart near the end.”
Cloverdale (3-6), led by Tylie Hatcher’s 26 points, finished the game with several players in foul trouble, including two who fouled out. The Cougars took advantage at the free-throw line, with center Taylar Minnis leading the way.
“Taylar played strong down low and was solid from the free-throw line,” Pivniska-Petrie said.
Minnis, a senior, led the Cougars with 19 points, going 5-for-7 from the line.
Upper Lake led 15-7 after one quarter but Cloverdale used a 22-15 second quarter to pull within one point by halftime.
“We changed up our defense a little bit in the second half and did some things differently on offense as well,” Pivniska-Petrie said.
The Cougars were tough on the boards as well.
“I was proud of our rebounding,” Pivniska-Petrie said.
Heaven’Lee Loans Arrow finished with 14 points, Jadyn Poe added eight and Maddy Young had six.
The Cougars also won the junior varsity game 61-22.
Upper Lake opens play in the Fort Bragg Tournament on Wednesday against Fortuna at 12:30 p.m. The tournament runs through Dec. 30.
