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Lady Dragons close out dramatic win over Analy

Studdert, Romano, Ashe ice key SCL victory, seniors honored; JVs fall

 

It was imperative in the Sonoma Valley High School varsity basketball girls’ postseason push to finish off a challenging, and critical, Sonoma County League three-game week with a win over a tough opponent, which happens to be the defending SCL champion who beat them soundly on the road in their first meeting.

With a sluggish start Friday night at Pfeiffer Gym leading to a 10-6 first-quarter deficit, the Lady Dragons battled Analy to a 17-17 halftime tie, and, with senior all-league standout Annie Studdert finally taking control, held a 31-27 third-quarter advantage on a three-pointer by junior Ali Romano at the buzzer.

Then, when the visiting Tiger girls put together a 9-0 run to open the fourth-quarter by taking a 36-31 lead, Studdert – the team’s leading scorer and rebounder held to only four first-half points, all on free-throws – orchestrated a Sonoma surge down the stretch which crescendo-ed into a dramatic 49-44 triumph.

In the tense final period that featured two runs by each team, the Lady Dragons had the final say in the last minute, breaking a 42-42 deadlock with a 7-2 winning spurt, fueled by Romano’s third, and most vital, trey of the game; Studdert’s ninth and 10th points of the quarter; and two clutch free-throws by junior Kendall Ashe.

Before Friday’s home finale, Sonoma honored its seven seniors, including Studdert, Karly Burningham, Emily Edwards, Ari Schill, Anna Stewart, Lindsey Stewart and Jersey Witous.

Leading the Lady Dragons (11-13 overall, 5-5 SCL) past Analy were Studdert’s double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds to go with three assists and two steals; Romano’s nine points; Schill’s nine rebounds and six points; Witous’ eight points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals; Burningham’s seven rebounds and one point; junior Ashley Vail’s four points, three rebounds and one block; Ashe’s three rebounds, two points, two assists and two steals; and Anna Stewart’s three rebounds.

The Sonoma girl cagers wrap up their regular season this week on the road with games at Petaluma tomorrow night, Wednesday, Feb. 8, and against El Molino in Forestville this Friday evening, Feb. 10.

 

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Sonoma’s junior varsity hoops girls dropped a 53-31 decision to visiting Analy last Friday, after a 53-31 win at Windsor on Wednesday, and a 44-37 home loss to Casa Grande on Monday.

Leading the Lady Dragon jayvees past Windsor were sophomore Samantha Richards’ 11 points, sophomore Erica Larson’s and freshman Delaney Swanson’s nine each, sophomore Giana Monterossa’s and frosh Mackenzie Albrecht’s seven apiece, sophomore Megan Neely’s six, sophomore Michelle Stovall’s two, and sophomores Madison Burningham’s and Amanda Lacy’s one each.

Sonoma was paced in its defeat to Analy by Albrecht’s and Swanson’s eight points apiece, Monterossa’s six, Larson’s and sophomore Madeline Cline’s two each and Neely’s one.

Pacing the Lady Dragons in their loss to Casa were Alrecht’s 14 points, Monterossa’s seven, Neely’s six, Stovall’s three, two apiece by Lacy, Larson and Swanson, and Richards’ one.