Upper Lake girls claim Stokes title
Loans Arrow named MVP after 42-36 win
LA G COUNTY >> In a tense battle from beginning to end, Upper Lake High School held off Kelseyville 42-36 to win the varsity girls championship nearly a year ago today at the 48th annual Stokes Invitational Basketball Tournament in Kelseyville.
Until the COVID-19- delayed 2020-21 sports season starts, the Lake County Record-Bee will take a look back at the local sports happenings of a year ago and the teams and athletes who were making the headlines.
Varsity girls
With both teams looking for a spark in the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth game, it was a freshman, Heaven’Lee Loans Arrow, who provided it for the Cougars. She sank three of four free throws and hit a medium-range jump shot to help push Upper Lake’s lead into double digits early in the final period.
“She set the tempo for us and played at the perfect level,” said Upper Lake head coach Mike Smith, a Kelseyville alum, on Loans Arrow’s clutch play down the stretch.
Kelseyville fought back to keep it close, but a Maddy Young free throw with 5.5 seconds left iced the victory as Upper Lake improved to 10-2 at the Christmas break.
Loans Arrow finished with 16 points and was later named the tournament’s most valuable player. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by senior Alana Sanchez, who added 11 points in the win.
All-Tournament selection Allison Bryant led the Knights with 10 points. Paloma Ortiz of Kelseyville also earned All-Tourney honors.
Varsity boys
While Cloverdale won the varsity boys Stokes championship with a 43-37 victory over Ukiah, Middletown secured third place with a 54-32 win over tournament host Kelseyville.
Brothers Sammy and Andres Cervantes led the Mustangs with 15 points apiece. Andres Cervantes was named to the All-Tournament team.
Another All-Tourney selection, Bodhi Baird of Kelseyville, powered the Knights with 11 points.
Upper Lake fell 57- 44 to Ferndale in the boys consolation championship game. Upper Lake’s Dalton Slater earned A ll-Tournament honors.