Local high school teams are nearing the halfway mark in the Sonoma County League season this week, with both Analy and El Molino looking to turn things around in what has been a challenging season.
The defending SCL champion Flying Tigers took their lumps in a busy week of hoops, a stretch that started with a 59-29 loss at Healdsburg, followed by a 61-48 setback against Piner. The Tigers climbed back into the win column on Saturday, turning back host Sonoma Valley, 51-44.
At press time Analy (5-13, 2-2) was preparing for a Jan. 16 clash with Petaluma, followed by a Jan. 18 home tilt against Elsie Allen. Game times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
The Lions (3-14, 0-5) are coming off recent losses to Healdsburg (54-44) and Piner (77-34), looking to get that elusive first league win this week when they host Sonoma Valley on Jan. 16. El Mo will visit Analy to start the second half of league next Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Flying Tigers ready for take-off
The Flying Tigers were never in the game in their Jan. 9 visit to first-place Healdsburg, spotting the Hounds a 24-8 first-quarter lead. Healdsburg led 36-16 at the half and never looked back en route to a 59-29 rout. Quinn Vermeulan paced the Tigers with 12 points.
“It was one of those nights where we couldn’t do anything right,” Analy coach Brett Page said. ”We did find out that we had some guys on the bench that can play.”
Analy played host to Piner two nights later, playing a strong first half to grab a 24-23 lead at the break. The Tigers finally relinquished the lead late in the third quarter before the Prospectors pulled away in the final period to secure a 61-48 win. JJ Fain led the attack with 15 points, while Vermeulan (15 points, 6 rebounds), Nic Visser (10 points), Brenden Medina (10 points), Avi Frey (10 points and Luke Bertling (10 points) all played well for the Tigers.
The Tigers bounced back on Saturday holding the Dragons to just two points in the decisive second quarter to grab a 27-17 halftime advantage. The teams played on even terms for most of the second half as Analy held on for a 51-44 win. Top scorers were Medina (8 points), Bertling (8 points), Nic Visser (8 points, 10 rebounds), Frey (8 points, 12 rebounds), Vermeulan (7 points) and Fain (6 points).
“We’re improving and getting better with each game,” Page noted. “ It was a big win for us and the balanced scoring shows that we have some guys that can score.”
Lions fall to Greyhounds, Prospectors
The Lions remained in search of the elusive first league win this week despite a good effort against visiting Healdsburg on Jan. 11. El Mo came out with intensity in taking a 13-12 first quarter lead before the Hounds got it going to grab a 27-21 half time edge. The teams would trade buckets in an evenly played second half as the Greyhounds held on for a 54-44 win. Cutis Lewis led the way with 12 points.
“We fought the whole game and executed really well,” El Mo coach Jesse Heiny said. “We may have lost, but there were some really good things to build upon, namely defense and offensive execution.”
The Lions endured a forgettable night at Piner on Saturday, as the Prospectors raced to a 35-16 halftime lead en route to a 77-34 rout. Lewis and Logan Woolsey played well for the Lions.
