Hold onto your hats and Katy bar the door, as the Lady Tigers head into the final two weeks of Sonoma County League girls hoops in hot pursuit of a coveted championship pennant.
The Tigers were dealt a tough blow last week in their lone outing, dropping a 44-35 loss at Sonoma Valley to fall out of first place.
At the start of play this week Analy (6-1, 11-10) was in second place, just a half game back in the win column of first-place Sonoma Valley (7-1), and one up on third-place Healdsburg (6-2). Rounding out the SCL conference standings were Petaluma (4-3), Piner (3-5), El Molino (1-7) and Elsie Allen (0-8).
The Tigers will begin a crucial run of games starting on Feb. 2, (after press time) against Petaluma, followed by a Thursday, Feb. 4, visit to Healdsburg. Analy will host Elsie Allen on Saturday, Feb. 6 and finish up with home games against Piner (Feb. 9), and El Molino (Feb. 11.) All varsity games start at 7:30 p.m.
Tigers fall to Dragons
Sonoma Valley was out to avenge a 36-30 loss to the Tigers when they took their home court on Jan. 28, with the teams trading buckets in an evenly matched first half. The Dragons clung to a slim 19-18 lead at the half, but padded the cushion with a 16-11 run in the third quarter. The Tigers went cold in the final period, managing just six points in an eventual 44-35 loss.
Top point-getters for Analy included Sophie McFadin (10 points), Bailey Hunter (10 points) and Sarah Brown (9 points).
Lions battle
league foes
The Lady Lions will be looking to finish the season on a high note this month following recent setbacks to Petaluma and Piner.
El Mo began the stretch with a Jan. 26, trip to Petaluma, spotting the Trojans a 15-3 lead after one. The Lions righted the ship in the second quarter to trail 26-16 at the half, playing the Trojans on nearly even terms the rest of the way en route to a 48-34 loss.
Emily Dean paced the offense with 11 points, six rebounds and five steals. Other top scorers were Grace Anderson (7 points), Madison Dean (6 points, 5 boards), Sim Kaur (5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals), Kristine Daniels (3 points, 3 boards, 5 assists, 4 steals) and Leslie Sierra (2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals).
El Mo got off to a great start in the Jan. 28, battle with Piner, jumping out to a 13-11 lead after one. The second quarter proved disastrous, as the Prospectors finished the half on a 23-3 surge for a 34-16 halftime cushion. The Lions could get no closer after intermission in an eventual 55-28 Piner win.
Kaur led the attack with eight points and four rebounds. Other good efforts were had by Emily Dean (6 points), Anderson (5 points, 4 boards, 1 steal), Madison Dean (3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Chloe Kliegi (2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals), Sierra (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist) Cynthia Hernandez (2 points, 2 rebounds),
The Lions will resume league play on Feb. 2, against visiting Sonoma, followed by a Thursday, Feb. 4, visit to Elsie Allen (7:30 p.m.).
