Windsor opens league schedule with wins
The varsity basketball Jaguars did nothing to diminish their role as a title contender in the first full week of the North Bay League season, scoring dominant wins over Santa Rosa and Rancho Cotate.
The Jags (11-4, 3-0) emerged from the winter break and a strong second place showing at the Windsor Holiday Classic Tournament in December without skipping a beat, taking their first step toward their ultimate goal.
“We’re improving and continuing to work hard to get a little better each day,” Jags head coach Travis Taylor reported following wins over the Panthers and Cougars. “We have a big week coming up with three games against some of the top teams in the league.”
Windsor will now embark on the toughest part of the NBL schedule with a home swing that begins on Jan. 9 (after press time) with a clash against Maria Carrillo, followed by successive home dates with Montgomery (Jan. 11) and Cardinal Newman (Jan. 13). Tip-off times for the JV and varsity are 5 and 7:30 p.m. All three opponents were 3-0 at the start of league play this week.
Jags win a pair
The Jaguars opened the league campaign on the road at Santa Rosa on Jan. 3, riding the hot hand of senior Riley Smith in racing to a 17-13 advantage. Leading 35-25 at the half, Windsor took a 13-point cushion into the final period before powering to a 63-42 win.
Riley Smith finished with a team-high 23 points and five rebounds. Other top performers included Justin Smith (13 points, 11 rebounds), Jordan Merical (13 points), Travis Carlozzi (10 points, 4 boards, 6 assists), Josh Brown (2 points), Massimo Dicochea (1 point) and Uli Vielma (1 point, 5 assists).
Windsor got off to its customary fast start in a Jan. 5 visit to Rancho Cotate, stunning the Cougars with a 28-14 lead at the half. The Jags emptied their bench after intermission in coasting to an eventual 52-39 win.
Top scorers for the Jags were Riley Smith (16 points, 12 rebounds), Justin Smith (12 points, 12 boards), Carlozzi (13 points, 10 rebounds), Merical (10 points) and Vielma (1 point, 4 assists).
