ROHNERT PARK — After trailing nearly the entire game, the Upper Lake High School junior varsity boys basketball team finished strong to beat the Credo Gryphon 37-28 in North Central League II action Friday night in Rohnert Park.
“We pressed and pressed and pressed in the third and fourth quarters and kind of wore them down,” Upper Lake head coach Thomas Santana said.
It was Upper Lake’s first game in three weeks and the Cougars were noticeably rusty, according to Santana.
“Really, really rusty,” Santana said. “I think we’ve only had eight practices since our last game (because of the holidays).”
Upper Lake, now 2-0 in league play, will also be without one of its top players, Connor Vogel, the remainder of the season as Vogel has been moved up to the varsity squad. In his absence, Santana said the defense of Adam Moran and the defense and rebounding of Jerod Rosales provided a big spark for the Cougars against Credo.
“His defense made a big difference,” Santana said of Moran. “Jerod stepped up with rebounding and defense.”
Landon Robinson’s 14 points led the Cougars and Beaux Stiritz added 12 points.
“Beaux played great,” Santana said.
The Cougars are off until next Friday when they host Grace Academy.
