Windsor emerging as surprise team; runs record to 5-2
The varsity basketball Jaguars enjoyed a breakout performance at the 52nd annual Rose City Tournament hosted by Cardinal Newman on Dec. 8-10, claiming two wins in three outings to take home a second place trophy.
The Jaguars notched wins over Elsie Allen (58-51) and Redwood (57-55, OT) before falling to North Bay League power Newman in the title game, 48-36.
Despite graduating all five of their starters from last year’s championship squad, Windsor’s sudden emergence as a team to reckon with is perhaps a surprise to many in the early stages of the 2016/17 campaign.
“It was a good tournament for us,” an understated WHS head coach Travis Taylor reported. “We played against full court pressure defense in all three of our games and that will help us later in the season.”
The Jags (5-2) will take a short break from competition this week before resuming preseason action next Tuesday, Dec. 20 against visiting Elsie Allen followed by a home clash with Mount Diablo on Thursday, Dec. 22. Varsity tip-off is 7:30 p.m. for both games.
Jags’ defense steps up
Defense and scrappy play was a reoccurring theme at Rose City as Windsor out-hustled both of their first two opponents.
The Jags took on a solid Elsie Allen squad in Thursday’s tourney opener, playing the Lobos on even terms for much of the first two quarters to grab a 30-24 lead at the half.
Windsor’s junior big-man Riley Smith continued to give the Lobos trouble inside in a hotly contested third period as the Jags clung to a 44-40 lead at the end of three en route to a hard-fought, 58-51 win.
Riley Smith led the way with a team-high 21 points, while other top scorers included twin brother Justin Smith (13), Travis Carlozzi (12), Brandon Mallie (8) and Brock Tolson (4).
Windsor took on highly regarded Redwood in the game of the tournament on Friday, with the Giants using an effective full-court press and a flurry of three-point bombs to take a 22-14 lead at the end of one. The Jaguars didn’t flinch, stepping up their defensive intensity in holding Redwood to six points in the second quarter to trail 28-21 at the break.
The Jags mounted a furious rally in the decisive third, ripping off a 16-6 run to surge into the lead, 37-34. The lead would change hands several times down the stretch before Tolson nailed a pair of clutch free throws to send it into overtime knotted at 49-all. The Jags took charge with great work on the glass in the 4 minute extra frame to pull out an electrifying 57-55 victory.
Riley Smith led the way with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Also turning in outstanding efforts were Carlozzi (14 points, 10 rebounds), Justin Smith (9 points, 8 rebounds), Tolson (8 points, 8 boards), Mallie (3 points) and Kobe Roman (1 point).
The win set up a tourney title tilt with host Cardinal Newman on Saturday, with the Cardinals employing relentless defensive pressure to take an 11-0 lead out of the gate. Windsor ripped off 10 straight points but still trailed 16-12 after one. Newman led 29-19 at the half.
“After Newman started the game on the 11-0 run, the boys settled down and played better from that point on,” Taylor noted.
The Jags would stay within striking distance in the final two periods but the Cardinals went on to post an eventual 48-36 win.
Top contributors for Windsor included Riley Smith (11 points, 7 rebounds), Carlozzi (7 points), Tolson (6 points), Justin Smith (6 points), Mallie (3 points), Roman (2 points) and AJ Whaley (1 point).
Riley Smith and Carlozzi were each named to the All-Tournament team.
