Windsor trails Cardinal Newman by one game in NBL standings
Things are getting interesting in the race for the North Bay League boys basketball crown, as the defending NBL champion Jaguars make a run at a title repeat.
The Jags (8-1, 17-4) continued their remarkable quest this week with three wins in as many outings, scoring victories over Ukiah (53-36), Casa Grande (51-22) and Santa Rosa (51-38) to keep pace with unbeaten Cardinal Newman.
“It was a big week for us,” Jags head coach Travis Taylor said. “Anytime you play three league games in five days it’s going to be a grind. I was proud of how hard we played, especially on the defensive end.”
At press time, Windsor was all alone in second place, just one game back of the Cardinals (9-0). Rounding out the league standings were Montgomery (6-2), Santa Rosa (5-3), Maria Carrillo (3-5), Ukiah (2-6), Casa Grande (1-8) and Rancho Cotate (0-8).
The Jaguars will resume NBL action with a Tuesday, Jan. 31 visit Rancho Cotate, followed by a Thursday, Feb. 2 home clash with Maria Carrillo. Game times beginning with the frosh are 4:30, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Windsor’s clean sweep
The Jaguars kicked off a perfect week on Jan. 23 against visiting Ukiah, setting the tone with an 18-7 run out of the gate. Leading 32-17 at the half, Windsor kept its foot on the gas in the final two quarters en route to a 53-36 win.
Pacing the offensive attack were Justin Smith (18 points, 6 rebounds), Riley Smith (13 points, 5 rebounds), Brandon Mallie (9 points, 3 treys), Kobe Roman (8 points), Uly Vielma (5 points) and Travis Carlozzi (7 rebounds).
Windsor began the second half of the NBL schedule against visiting Casa Grande two nights later, hoping to duplicate a 12-point win over the Gauchos in Petaluma three weeks earlier. The Jaguars did just that and more, holding the visitors to single digits in each quarter in powering to a 51-22 rout.
Riley Smith led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Other top efforts were had by Justin Smith (11 points, 7 boards), Carlozzi (7 points, 12 rebounds), Ethan Wright (5 points), Roman (4 points), Mallie (2 points) and Kyle Bozzetto (2 points).
The Jags wrapped up a successful stretch of hoops on Friday at Santa Rosa, riding the offensive firepower of twin brothers Justin and Riley Smith in cruising to a 51-38 victory. Justin Smith took top scoring honors with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Riley Smith added 18 points and 8 boards. Also in the scoring column for Windsor were Carlozzi (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Roman (4 points, 5 boards).
