29-3 Cougars lead the way

Co-MVPs Young, Minnis power Upper Lake to historic 2022-23 campaign

LAKE COUNTY >> In the end, the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the very best as they closed out a historic 29-3 campaign with a loss to the team, the Bret Harte Bullfrogs of Angels Camp, that went on to win a state championship.

And while the Cougars played Bret Harte to a 1919 tie in the first half before their offense stopped scoring in a 49-24 loss in the quarterfinal round of the NorCal Division 5 playoffs, it would be pretty hard — better make that impossible — to find fault with anything Upper Lake did during the 2022-23 season.

While tying school and Lake County records for most wins in a single season, Upper Lake pinned two more pennants on the wall — one for a third straight North Central League II championship and the other for finishing second in the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs. The Cougars went 14-0 in league and 4-2 in the postseason, which also ties the county record for most playoff victories in a single season.

And this team wasn't even at full strength for the last month of its season. No matter. The Cougars adapted and overcame all obstacles, including losing an entire year to the COVID-19 pandemic, until Bret Harte ended their sweet ride.

A senior-dominated team, Upper Lake made its experience and years of hard work pay off in the end. As a result, the Cougars are front and center when it comes to selections for the 2023 All-Lake County basketball team as picked by the Lake County Record-Bee.

Co-MVPs

There was nothing close to matching senior guard Maddy Young's defensive intensity in the Redwood Empire small-school ranks and the Cougars were a completely different team on those rare occasions when she wasn't on the floor. Her offense picked up toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, an added bonus given all the mayhem she caused with her quick hands, quick feet and unrelenting pressure on defense.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRETT BISHOP Upper Lake High School senior Maddy Young is the co-most valuable player on the 2023edition of the All-Lake County girls basketball team as selected by the Record-Bee. A defensive standout for the Cougars, she shares the award with teammate and fellow senior Taylar Minnis, the Cougars' leading scorer.

Upper Lake High School senior Taylar Minnis is the co-most valuable players on the All-County team. An offensive force for the Cougars, she helped Upper Lake reach the quarterfinal round of the NorCal Division 5playoffs where they lost to eventual state champion Bret Harte of Angels Camp.

Upper Lake co-head coaches Raelene Cromwell (left) and Annie Pivniska-Petrie guided the Cougars to a third straight North Central League II championship, a runner-up finish in the North Coast Section Division 5playoffs, and to the quarterfinal round of the NorCal Division 5playoffs. They are the co-Coaches of the Year on the All-County team.

Clear Lake senior Abby Mertle is a first-team selection on the All-County girls basketball team.

Upper Lake senior Madison Noble is a first-team selection on the All-County girls basketball team.

Middletown sophomore Mia Hoogendoorn is a first-team selection on the All-County girls basketball team.