Kelseyville avenges league loss to Lower Lake; JV Knights improve to 9-0
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KELSEYVILLE >> It would be easy to blame the early start time, a 9 a.m. tipoff, for the Lower Lake Trojans’ sluggish performance Thursday during the opening round of the Stokes Tournament at Kelseyville High School.
There’s just one problem with that. The Kelseyville Knights played at the same time and didn’t seem to mind as they rolled to a 59-33 victory, avenging a 27-26 league-opening loss to Lower Lake last week in Lower Lake.
“Kelseyville came ready to play, we didn’t,” Lower Lake head coach Shannon Tubbs said.
Whereas the Trojans (4-6) scored a grand total of 16 points in the first three quarters, the Knights (5-5), winners of three in a row since opening the season 2-5, had 33 by halftime and 51 heading to the fourth quarter.
“We had another big confidence boost this morning,” Kelseyville head coach Tim Conrad said. “We have been playing great basketball of late. Unlike our last game in Lower Lake, we were knocking down shots. A 20-point second quarter helped us build a big halftime lead (33-14).”
The Knights enjoyed balanced scoring from the likes of Olivia Hommer (13 points), Matisyn Mateer (12 points) and Nyejzniya Krohn (11 points). Jasmin Bellesteros added points, including two 3-pointers, and Cali Schnabl had seven points. Mateer led the team with three 3-pointers and six assists.
“The girls are playing loose and having a lot of fun on the court,” Conrad said as the Knights punched their ticket into the winner’s semifinals Friday against Healdsburg at 8 p.m. Healdsburg dispatched Ferndale, 51-36, in another first-round game.
Jamiya Lee-Ayers finished with nine points and seven rebounds, both team highs, for Lower Lake, and Aly Aguirre had nine points, including a 3-pointer, while Ayla Ales and Brooke Benson added five points apiece.
“We had only 43 shots with all turnovers (28),” Tubbs said.
Lower Lake draws Ferndale in the consolation semifinals Friday at 2 p.m.
In other first-round Stokes girls games St. Bernard’s of Eureka beat Oroville 60-13, and Pinole Valley knocked off Cloverdale 68-30.
JV basketball
Kelseyville 49, Piner 18
At Santa Rosa, Kelseyville’s undefeated junior varsity girls team improved to 9-0 with a win over the Piner Prospectors in the opening round of the Jeff Paul Tournament at Maria Carrillo High School.
Aubree Sperber led the way for the 9-0 Knights with 15 points, Kendra Devries finished with 11 and Jordyn Wurm had seven points and 12 rebounds. Josie Keithly contributed five points.
Kelseyville plays Redwood in the winner’s semifinals Friday at 4 p.m.