ST. HELENA — The dreaded bad quarter, an all too often visitor during Lower Lake’s 2022-23 season, made one last appearance Thursday night as the Trojans fell 47-44 to St. Helena in a North Central League I varsity girls basketball game at St. Helena.
Playing its final game of the season, Lower Lake took a 29-22 lead into the third quarter and still had 29 points by quarter’s end as St. Helena pushed ahead 32-29.
“We just couldn’t shoot the ball tonight, we couldn’t rebound,” Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said. “Everything was a struggle.”
Added Tubbs, “If you let a hungry team hang around, that’s what will happen.”
Tubbs, who had never lost to St. Helena until Thursday night, said it was a tough way to end the season, which the Trojans finish 5-11 in league and 8-18 overall. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the core of his team returns next season, including daughter Tiahna Tubbs, who led the Trojans with 28 points despite playing on a sore ankle. The junior guard also got knocked around by the Saints, but never left the court.
“She battled tonight,” Tubbs said of his daughter’s night. “I take my hat off to her. She left it all on the court.”
Ayla Ales, another underclassman, added nine points, all on 3-pointers.
Tubbs credited St. Helena (4-10) with a solid effort. The Saints hadn’t won a league game in almost a decade entering this season.
“They came out to play and outhustled us,” Tubbs said.
In the junior varsity game, St. Helena edged Lower Lake 21-20. Brooke Watson’s seven points led the Trojans, who close out the season 11-5 in league and 15-9 overall.
“We came out flat and just couldn’t get it together,” Lower Lake head coach Jessica Wiley said. “Nothing was falling and we took sloppy shots. In the end our defense fell apart. It’s a tough loss, especially to end the season.”
