Boys basketball
The Flying Tigers kicked off the Sonoma County League basketball season in dramatic fashion, scoring a tense, 67-64 overtime win over host Sonoma Valley.
The Tigers followed up with another victory two nights later, this one a relatively easy 69-48 win over visiting Piner to start league at 2-0.
“What a first week,” Analy coach Brett page said. “We’re hopeful that we can continue to improve and see more basketball with all of our options working together. It will be tough as all teams prepare and plan for us and then give great effort. We take it as a compliment, we bring out the best in others,” he added.
At press time Analy (11-4, 2-0) was preparing for a Jan. 12 visit to Healdsburg, before returning home this Thursday, Jan. 14, to host Petaluma. Game times starting with the frosh are 4:30/6/7:30 p.m. The Tigers will take on Mt. Eden this Saturday, Jan. 16 in the Martin Luther King Day Classic Tournament hosted by Piedmont, tipping off at 12 p.m.
Analy will visit El Molino next Tuesday, Jan. 19 in the first of two season meetings. (4:30/6/7:30 p.m.).
Tigers claim win in OT
Fans couldn’t have asked for a more exciting SCL opener than the Jan. 7 clash at Sonoma Valley, with the game needing extra minutes before being decided.
The Tigers got off to a slow start, spotting the hot-shooting Dragons a 30-21 lead at the half. The Tigers got it going in a wild third quarter, but still trailed by seven after three. The Analy comeback was complete with a bucket to tie the game with four ticks left in regulation, sending it into OT knotted at 59-all. The Tigers wrestled away the lead in overtime to escape with a 67-64 win.
“It was a frustrating game from start to almost finish,” Page noted. “Sonoma played great against us and didn’t miss many shots in the first half. They knew our stuff and defended us as well as anyone this season.”
Aidan Toner-Rodgers paced the attack with 21 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Other top scorers included Nick Fujii (15 points), Jordan Armstrong (13 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals), Dom Tripodi (9 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals), Travis Holmes (7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal) and Zach Binsfeld (2 points, 2 rebounds).
The Tigers were back in top form in the Jan. 9 meeting with Piner, using a 16-5 run in the second quarter to lead 33-18 at the half. The Tigers kept their foot on the gas after intermission in cruising to a 69-48 win.
“Piner got to see more of the real Tiger team,” Page said. “We shot well, which always makes a huge difference.”
Top point-getters for Analy included Toner-Rodgers (24 points, 4 threes), Holmes (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Armstrong (8 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks), Tripodi (8 points, 3 boards, 3 assists), David Codoni (4 points), Fujii (4 points), and two points each from Anthony Narvaez, Aidan Vermuelen, and Binsfeld.
