The sounds of dribbling, squeaking sneakers and off-the-backboard goals resonated through Smith Robinson Gym (and the smaller East Gym) for the long weekend of the four-day Redwood Empire Invitational Basketball Tournament (REIBT). It was the 75th year of Healdsburg High’s own tribute to regional basketball, and whether for local fans or visiting teams, it did not disappoint.
Undefeated so far this season, the girls HHS Greyhounds came in top-seeded, and they met that expectation right out of the game with a 47-35 win over Cloverdale’s Eagles on Wednesday night. Their dominance prevailed in their next game as well, Friday’s almost identical 47-35 win over Fortuna.
But it wasn’t easy getting there. The coasting Greyhounds were held to just two points in the third period, which forced their play into a higher level as they mounted a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away. Allie Espinoza led scoring for the Hounds with 16 points while Ruby Leffew was right behind her at 15.
Their seven-game winning streak ended Saturday’s tournament championship game when they met Justin-Siena High, of Napa County. Likewise undefeated so far this year, the Braves presented a solid offensive attack with Lauren Keller for 16 points and Jordan Washington with 12.
Meanwhile Healdsburg’s leading scorer, Espinoza, was held to nine, and though the final score of 52-38 shows the game didn’t get entirely out of hand, it did demonstrate the superiority, at least in this game, of the Lady Braves.
Varsity Boys
On the boys side, Healdsburg’s Greyhounds tournament began with a dominant performance over Roseland College Prep, a 91-14 victory that was never in doubt. The Hounds held RUP scoreless in the first quarter and the score at halftime was 51-4, and Healdsburg’s baskets fell like dominoes all evening.
Pierce McWilliams scored 16, Thatcher Little hit for 14 and Teague Jasper for 13, and the high-scoring Greyhounds finished on top of the world Friday night.
If it was an exhilarating game for the Greyhounds, the next day reality came calling as Healdsburg played a double-header on the tournament’s last day. Despite 18 points from Ethan Overdorf and 11 from Little, Healdsburg fell to Kelseyville, 70-53.
The 75th annual REIBT ended that night for the Greyhounds with their loss to San Rafael, the eventual tournament champion, 83-42.
The tournament concluded with a second-place finish for the hosting Hounds girls, and a third-place finish for the boys, behind girls champion Justin-Siena and boys winner San Rafael.
Selections for tournament players included Thatcher Little on the boys’ all-tournament roster, and both Ashley Behrens and Allie Espinoza on the girls side.
Upcoming the boys and girls teams both enter another long-standing tournament, the 52nd annual Stokes in Kelseyville. Not until after Christmas do normal one-on-one games return, with the girls playing Marin Catholic at home on Dec. 28, and the boys meeting Cloverdale on Jan. 3, 2025.
