Analy opens up at number 7 Eureka on Feb. 21
The third time was the charm for the Lady Tigers in the Sonoma County League Playoff Tournament title game on Saturday at Santa Rosa Junior College, turning in a defensive gem to defeat regular season champion Sonoma Valley, 45-35.
The victory was the first in three season meetings with the Dragons and came on the heels of a tighter-than-expected 53-49 win over Healdsburg in the SCL tourney opener on Feb. 16.
The win completed an Analy sweep, with the Flying Tigers defeating Petaluma in the boys championship tilt.
On Sunday the Lady Tigers were tapped as the number 10 seed in the North Coast Section Division 3 Playoff Tournament and opened up on Tuesday, Feb. 21 (after press time) at seventh seeded Eureka. A win over the Loggers will advance Analy into the NCS quarterfinals on Feb. 24 against the victor of the Salesian-Hercules game.
The full list of NCS Division 3 teams in order of seeding is Bishop O’Dowd, Salesian, Campolindo, St. Mary’s, San Marin, Moreau Catholic, Eureka, Sonoma Valley, Alhambra, Analy, Albany, Encinal, Drake, Novato, Hercules and Kennedy.
The second seeded Lady Tigers had their hands full against number three visiting Healdsburg in the SCL tourney opener on Feb. 16, as the Greyhounds clawed back from an 11-6 first-quarter deficit with a 16-9 run in the second to take a 22-20 halftime lead. The teams traded baskets in a wide-open third period that had the Hounds clinging to a 37-34 edge after three. But the Tigers regrouped with a strong fourth quarter to close it out on a 19-12 run and escape with a 53-49 victory.
Senior post-player Bella Niedermair led all Analy scorers with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Other good efforts were had by Bailey Hunter (13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals), Sophie McFadin (9 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals), Alexis Dibene (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Claire Brown (5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals) and Isabel Housman (3 points, 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal).
The Tigers were focused and ready for Sonoma Valley in Saturday’s title game, utilizing a swarming defense to hold the Dragons to five points in each of the first two periods for a 19-10 lead at the half. There was no drop-off in intensity after intermission, as the Tigers matched every Sonoma surge in the final two quarters on their way to a 45-35 win.
Niedermair finished a great tournament with a game-high 15 points and 14 rebounds. Other top scorers were McFadin (12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), Hunter (6 points, 11 boards, 2 assists, 7 steals), Dibene (4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Housman (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals), Aleah Armstrong (2 points, 4 boards, 1 assist), Cullen (2 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals) and Maddie Strom (2 points, 1 rebound).
