Analy and El Molino girls basketball teams turned in a solid stretch on the Sonoma County League hard court, with the Tigers gaining a split against top-flight opponents, while the Lions remained in hot pursuit of their first league win.
The Lady Tigers (9-9, 3-1) came agonizingly close to grabbing the top spot in the standings following a 50-32 rout over Sonoma Valley on Jan. 10, but excitement turned to disappointment two nights later in a 60-52 loss at Petaluma.
At press time Analy was just one game back of first-place Petaluma (4-0) in the SCL hierarchy, with schedule dates at Piner (Jan. 17), followed by a Jan. 19 home tilt with Healdsburg.
Meanwhile the Lions (2-13, 0-4) continued to play well with no reward last week, falling to Petaluma (48-35), Piner (63-45) and Sonoma Valley (44-31). El Mo will continue league play at Healdsburg on Jan. 17, followed by a Jan. 19 home clash with Elsie Allen. Game times starting with the JV are 5 and 7:30 p.m.
“We’ve been playing really hard defense,” El Mo head coach Keith Nordby said. “The team is young and coming together.”
Tigers gain split
Analy played its best defensive game of the league season in the Jan. 9 meeting with visiting Sonoma Valley, erasing a 9-7 first-quarter deficit with a 12-3 run in the second quarter. Leading 33-21 after three quarters, the Tigers busted it wide open in the final period in powering to a 50-32 win.
Top point-getters for Analy were Isabel Housman (15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals), Julie Ambrose (7 points, 2 rebounds), Bre Lawrence (7 points, 7 rebounds), Claire Brown (6 points, 11 boards), Aleah Armstrong (4 points, 7 rebounds) and Lucia Jameau (4 points, 5 rebounds).
The Lady Tigers were locked in a tight battle at Petaluma on Saturday, using a 23-9 second quarter run to grab a 30-19 cushion at the half. The Trojans turned up the heat after intermission, outscoring the Tigers 22-8 in the third quarter on their way to a 60-52 victory.
Housman continued a sensational season with a team-high 17 points, nine rebounds, 3 assists and seven steals. Other top scorers included Ambrose (12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Alexis Dibene (8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals), Brown (7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Bre Lawrence (6 points, 11 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal).
Lions battle opponents
El Molino kicked off a busy week on Jan. 8 against Petaluma, stunning the Trojans with a 12-10 lead in the opening quarter. The visitors regrouped on a 21-6 second quarter run and held the Lions off after intermission in cruising to a 48-35 win. Hailey Sheridan led the Lions with 19 points.
El Mo entertained Piner two nights later, playing the Prospectors tough to trail 30-27 at the half. Piner put the defensive clamps down in the final two quarters, outscoring the Lions 33-18 the rest of the way en route to a 63-45 win. Freshman Yasmin Sierra paced the attack with 11 points.
The Lions finished up a busy week on Friday at Sonoma, hanging tough with the Dragons most of the way before falling, 44-31. Hailee Walker was El Mo’s top scorer with 10 points.
