Analy gains split; evens league record to 3-3
The defending Sonoma County League champion Flying Tigers are hitting their stride at the halfway mark of the season, overcoming a different brand of adversity to even their league record at 3-3.
The Tigers, who have undergone a transformation of sorts to their roster, gained an even split in a pair of recent SCL outings, falling in a heartbreaker to Petaluma (44-42) but bouncing back to defeat Sonoma Valley in overtime, 63-61.
“I never thought the day would come where I thought going 3-3 in league was a good day,” veteran Analy coach Brett Page said. “We are there and very happy to be. We’re getting better and doing what is needed to get a win.”
At press time the Tigers (6-14 overall) had moved into fourth place in the league standings behind Healdsburg (6-0), Piner (5-1) and Petaluma (4-2), preparing to start the second league round robin against visiting El Molino on Jan. 24. Analy will host Healdsburg on Jan. 29. Game times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Tigers gain split
Analy opened its latest stretch against visiting Petaluma on Jan. 16, engaging the second-place Trojans in a nip and tuck battle that would come down to the final shot. The Tigers employed an effective zone defense to make it tough to penetrate, allowing Analy to erase a double-digit, third-quarter deficit with some late game heroics.
“We kept it close and then had a bad third quarter going down by 10 points,” Page noted. “We fought back and with four seconds had the ball and had to go the length of the court but had a shot. I felt like we played our best game of the season.”
The Tigers, led by guard Quinn Vermeulan, held the Trojans without a field goal the entire fourth quarter to whittle away at the deficit, and the talented junior would draw Analy even at 42-all with just 31 seconds remaining. It wasn’t to be as Petaluma knocked down at pair of free throws to escape with a 44-42 win.
Vermeulan finished up with a team-high 13 points (11 in 4th quarter) and six rebounds. Other top scorers included JJ Fain (10 points), Avi Frey (6 points, 10 rebounds), Quinn Whisman (4 points, 2 boards), Brenden Medina (2 points) and Luke Bertling (1 point, 2 rebounds).
The Tigers showed their grit two nights later against invading Elsie Allen, taking a 22-18 halftime lead. Clinging to a two-point advantage after three, the Tigers looked like they’d pull it out in regulation, but the Lobos tied it up at the foul line with three ticks left to send it to overtime knotted at 54-apeice. Vermeulan and Whisman took over the game in the extra frame as Analy outscored the Lobos 9-7 to eke out a hard-fought 63-61 victory.
Frey led the way with a season-high 27 points and 17 rebounds. Also in the scoring column were Fain (12 points), Vermeulan (11 points, 7 rebounds), Whisman (7 points, 3 steals) and Cason Roberts (6 points).
