Upper Lake boys drop one to RUP in NCL II action

Knights score 30 points in second quarter, win 63-39

SANTA ROSA >> Senior post Miguel Figueroa and his Roseland University Prep teammates scored 49 points in the first half while cruising to a 63-39 victory over the Upper Lake Cougars in North Central League II varsity boys basketball action on Wednesday night in Santa Rosa.

“They’re legit,” Upper Lake head coach Tony Arroyo said of the Knights (2-0 league, 9-4 overall). “He (Figueroa) was our focus. He is a man among boys.”

Figueroa finished with a teambest 25 points despite not playing much in the second half as RUP went to its reserves for much of the final two quarters.

“We were down by almost 40 at one point,” Arroyo said.

Upper Lake (0-2, 12-5) trailed 19-6 after one quarter and 4919 by halftime as the Knights

erupted for 30 points in the second period, Figueroa leading the way.

“He killed us on the offensive boards,” Arroyo said. “Most of his baskets were from attacking us underneath. He has a nice 10foot

jumper and he even hit a 3-pointer.”

While the Cougars have come up against big teams like RUP this season, Arroyo said they’ve never faced a big team that was as quick as the Knights.

“They were extremely fast and they took advantage of it,” Arroyo said. “We didn’t get many good looks.”

RUP’s defense also applied a tremendous amount of pressure, forcing Upper Lake into numerous turnovers, especially in the second quarter.

Benat Love’s nine points led the Cougars and Dalton Slater had seven.

The Cougars try again for their first league win Friday night at home against Sonoma Academy.