Trojans knock off St. Helena, Lower Lake
Heather Sterling overcame a box-and-one defense by the Lower Lake Trojans to score 13 points in a thrilling 38-37 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans in North Central League I junior varsity girls basketball action on Friday in Lower Lake.
It was the second straight league win for the Eagles (2-4), who beat the St. Helena Saints 67-28 a night earlier at Cloverdale, a game that was rescheduled from Jan. 17.
In the win over Lower Lake, Sterling came up big at the free-throw line for the Eagles, sinking nine of 12 shots. Maci Hernandez contributed 11 points to the victory.
“Both teams had opportunities to win the game down the stretch,” Cloverdale coach Mac Butler said. “Lower Lake missed two free throws and we missed two free throws.”
Lower Lake also missed two shots from the field just before time ran out.
In a game where both teams were never separated by much, Cloverdale trailed nearly the entire way.
“We stole one on the road,” Butler said. “It was a physical game.”
Against St. Helena the night before, Sterling went off for 28 points. She also had five steals and four assists. Julie Edwards added a career-best 15 points, hitting four of five shots from 3-point range.
“We came out with a lot of energy,” Butler said.
Cloverdale jumped all over St. Helena in the first quarter en route to building a 34-13 halftime lead.
Hernandez and Marina Lopez added 11 points apiece. Hernandez also had six rebounds.
“It was a big week,” Butler said of back-to-back wins on consecutive nights.
Cloverdale was home Tuesday, Jan. 24 to play Fort Bragg and the Eagles begin the second half of their league schedule Friday in Lakeport against the Cardinals.
