The Analy Flying Tigers wrapped up a great basketball season last week in the quarterfinals of the North Coast Section Division-3 playoffs, falling to number one seeded Moreau Catholic, 83-40.
The loss gave the Tigers a final season record of 21-9.
It was a strong season by any definition for Analy, which overcame key midseason injuries to capture its sixth Sonoma County League title in the past eight seasons.
“It was a great season and we were able to reach most of our goals,” Analy coach Brett Page said. “We did it with many players that didn’t have that much game experience and losing maybe our best player to injury in early January.”
Analy notches first round win
The Tigers entered the NCS tournament as the number eight seed, playing host to ninth seeded Encinal in the opening round on Feb. 23. The game took on a defensive tone in the first half, as Analy jumped out to a 13-8 lead at the end of one. The Tigers went cold in a frigid second quarter, managing just five points as the game moved to the halftime locker knotted at 18-apiece.
The Flying Tigers continued to struggle offensively after intermission, spotting Encinal a 29-28 advantage at the end of three. The Jets increased the lead to seven early in the fourth quarter, but Analy center Jordon Armstrong would put the team on his shoulders in the final minutes, dominating the paint with rebounds and put backs. The Tigers outscored the Jets 19-10 in the fourth quarter en route to a 47-39 win.
“We made some adjustments at half, and finally found a group of six guys that put the game plan together,” Page noted. “Our guards started to find the key with the drive and were able to get it to Jordan (Armstrong), before calling Armstrong’s performance, “his best ever for Analy.”
Armstrong finished up with 18 rebounds, four blocks and a game-high 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Other big contributors for the Tigers were Dominic Tripodi (6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, steal), Nick Fujii (5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Anthony Narvaez (4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists), Aidan Vermuelen (4 points, 2 rebounds), Travis Holmes (2 points, 3 boards, 7 assists) and Zach Binsfeld (2 points, 2 rebounds).
The win earned the Tigers a Feb. 26 trip to top seeded Moreau Catholic, perhaps facing one of the best teams in the state.
The Mariners took charge midway through the opening period, finishing the quarter on a huge run to grab a 33-11 lead. Moreau Catholic led 62-20 at the half. With the Mariners emptying their bench, the Tigers played on even terms after intermission but Moreau Catholic cruised to an 83-40 win.
“In my eight years at Analy this is one of the best high school teams we’ve faced,” Page said. “They’re an amazing team with their top four guys averaging 60 points per game. There was no way to simulate what they would be able to do in our practice.”
Top scorers for the Tigers were Fujii (11 points, rebound, assist), Armstrong (9 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks), Tripodi (6 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists), Narvaez (3 points), Holmes (2 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, steal), Eric Bendyk (2 points, 2 rebounds), Vermuelen (2 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists), Spencer Vogel (2 points, 3 rebounds), Binsfeld (2 points) and Jack Newman (1 point).
All League honors
Nick Fujii was named the Sonoma County League MVP in voting by coaches last month. Other honors went to Jordan Armstrong (Defensive Player of the Year), Travis Holmes (First Team) and Dominic Tripodi (Honorable Mention).
