Teams square off during pool play at Paul Larrea Tournament in Lakeport
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LAKEPORT >> A final-second shot by the Upper Lake Cougars missed the mark as the Clear Lake Cardinals held on to win a 52-51 nailbiter Friday in the opening round of the Paul Larrea Tournament for junior varsity boys basketball teams at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport.
Both Clear Lake and Upper Lake went on to win their second-round pool games later Friday, Clear Lake defeating Lower Lake 81-47, and Upper Lake beating Lower Lake 73-49.
Final-round games are Saturday. Clear Lake will play St. Bernard’s of Eureka for the tournament championship at 2:30 p.m. Upper Lake plays an opponent to be determined at 1:30 p.m.
Clear Lake 52, Upper Lake 51
“We had two fouls to give with 2.5 seconds left, so I told my guys to foul right away, as soon as they inbounded it,” Clear Lake head coach Shady Cerezo said of the game’s final play with the Cardinals clinging to a one-point lead. “We grabbed, short of hugging the guy, but no call and they got a shot up that barely missed.”
“We got the steal with 2.5 seconds left, called timeout, drew up a play and we got the shot we wanted, but it just didn’t fall for us,” Upper Lake head coach Lupeli Faleagafulu said. “I’m proud of the guys for staying with it and giving themselves a chance to win.”
Upper Lake rallied from a 47-34 deficit entering the fourth quarter.
“I’m proud of my guys for playing hard and battling to the end,” Cerezo said.
Nolan Buffalo’s 17 points and Noah Cleaver’s 16 led the Cardinals. Gael Moreno added 10.
For Upper Lake, Brody Blancas finished with 11 points, Antario Wyman added 10 and TJ Malicay nine.
Upper Lake 73, Lower Lake 49
Shaun Way’s 21 points and another 18 from Malicay powered the Cougars past the Trojans in second-round action. Blancas added 12.
“Shaun felt he didn’t play his best in the first game and he was able to bounce back in the second game,” Faleagafulu said. “It was also nice to see Brody Blancas contribute into the offense. He’s been struggling to find rhythm offensively, but he starting to find his way.”
Clear Lake 81, Lower Lake 47
Ayden Moreno scored 21 points, Cleaver finished with 20, Joey Portlock added 11 and Buffalo had 10 as the Cardinals built a 39-23 halftime lead against Lower Lake in second-round action.
“I challenged my guys to play with more attitude and energy, and we did that from the second quarter on,” Cerezo said. “I told my guys at halftime that now is the time to keep our foot on the gas pedal and put them away in the third, and my guys responded well, holding them to five points while scoring 22.”
Lower Lake scoring was not reported in either game.
