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Sonoma boys 1-3 at Marin tourney

Dragons sportsmanship honorees, host El Mo to open SCL Wednesday

After a rough tournament opener, Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity basketball boys put together a winning effort, before being dealt two more losses to wrap up their tourney play in last week’s Bambauer Classic at Marin Catholic in Kentfield.

While the young Dragons could manage only one victory in three games, they were winners when it came to sportsmanship.

Sonoma was the honored recipient of the Bambauer Classic’s Dick Barteau Team Sportsmanship Award. 

“This is a great honor for our young men considering all the great and talented teams in this tournament,” said Sonoma head coach Dennis Housman, who’s assisted by coaches Drue Jacobs, Pete Livingston, Sal Chavez and Casey Moll.

Comprising the Sonoma varsity boys’ roster are senior Vince Bruton; juniors Vincent Albano Dario Minatta, Jack Murphy, Matt Robinson and Jesse Summers; and sophomores Cyle Gusse, Alex Gustafson, Tristan Mertens, Trevor Welch and Ryan Wilbanks.

In their Marin Catholic tourney action, the Dragons, who dropped an 81-41 decision to a strong Arcata team in Wednesday’s first-round, broke open a tight second-round game against Berean Christian (Walnut Creek) on Thursday with a second-half push that resulted in a 56-52 victory.

Unfortunately, the Sonoma boy cagers faced two other tough foes to end their tournament play in Grant (Sacramento) on Friday, and Casa Grande on Saturday, and were saddled with 64-46 and 53-46 defeats, respectively.

Leading the Dragons past Berean Christian were Summers’ 19 points, Murphy’s 13, Bruton’s 10, Gustafson’s seven, Welch’s four, Gusse’s two and Albano’s one.

Sonoma was paced in its loss to Casa Grande by Bruton’s 16 points and nine rebounds, and Albano’s 11 points Summers’ nine, Gustafson’s six, and Gusse’s and Murphy’s two each.

Pacing the Dragons in falling to Grant were Summers’ 24 points, Bruton’s eight, Murphy and Welch’s four each, Gusse’s two with seven steals, and Albano’s two.

In its defeat to Arcata, Sonoma was paced by Bruton and Summers’ 11 points apiece, Murphy’s six, Welch’s four to go with eight rebounds, Albano’s and Wilbanks’ three each, Mertens’ two and Gusse’s one.

The Dragon boys open their Sonoma County League season tomorrow evening, Wednesday, Jan. 2, hosting El Molino in Pfeiffer Gym, with the freshmen starting at 4:30, the junior varsity playing at 6, and the varsity tipping off at 7:30 p.m.