The Analy Lady Tigers wrapped up a successful Sonoma County League campaign in the SCL tournament title game on Saturday, falling to regular season co-champion Sonoma Valley, 37-31 in a playoff double-header played at Santa Rosa Junior College.
The Tigers (17-11) advanced to the championship clash by virtue of a 46-27 win over Healdsburg in the tourney opener on Feb. 18, setting up a rubber match with the Dragons.
On Sunday, Analy was awarded the number 12 seed in the 14-team North Coast Section playoffs, which start this week.
At press time the Lady Tigers were prepping for a Feb. 23 visit to number five seeded San Marin, with the winner slated to face the survivor of the Tamalpais-San Rafael game on Friday, Feb. 26 (time and location TBD). Check the NCS website for updated bracket information as it becomes available.
The list of NCS Division-3 playoff teams in seeding order is; Miramonte, Bishop O’Dowd, Campolindo, Tamalpais, San Marin, Eureka, Pinole Valley, Encinal, Moreau Catholic, Hercules, Sonoma Valley, Analy, San Rafael and Albany.
Tigers gain
tourney split
Top seeded Analy played host to number four Healdsburg in the SCL playoff opener on Feb. 18, looking for a clean sweep over the Lady Greyhounds this season.
The Tiger’s defense would be the difference in this one, employing stifling pressure (16 steals) to limit the Hounds’ offense. Analy set the tone with a 14-6 run out of the gate, holding Healdsburg to single digits in the first two quarters in taking a 23-14 halftime lead.
The Lady Hounds mounted a comeback in the third quarter to get within three at 27-24, but the Tigers closed it out on a 19-3 run in the final period en route to 46-27 win.
Sophie McFadin had her best outing of the season for the Tigers, pouring in a game-high 22 points, including four from beyond the three-point arc. Also turning in strong performances were Sarah Brown (7 points, 6 rebounds) and DJ Hayes (7 points, 6 steals).
Saturday’s title game against Sonoma Valley lived up to expectations, with the teams waging a tight defensive skirmish that had the Dragons up 21-12 at the break.
The Tigers stayed within striking distance to trail 28-19 at the end of three, but the Dragons held off an Analy rally in the final period to notch a 37-31 win.
“It really was a great game defensively by both teams,” Tigers coach Earl Pasamonte said. “I love the way we played defensively, you shouldn’t lose a championship game when you give up only 37 points. We just didn’t shoot the ball well enough to win the game,” he added
Top scorers for the Tigers included McFadin (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Hayes (7 points). Analy converted just nine of 50 shots from the field.
