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Sonoma nips pesky Lions

Dragon boys win SCL opener; JVs, frosh update

While the young Sonoma Valley High School varsity basketball boys’ team, with only one senior on the roster, managed only two wins in its highly competitive preseason – including playing tournaments in Eureka and at Marin Catholic – its third victory, more importantly, came in its Sonoma County League opener.

When the Dragons looked like they were going to pull away from SCL foe El Molino three different times Wednesday night in Pfeiffer Gym, they just couldn’t shake free and secure a win.

But Sonoma got strong second-half all-around play from senior Vince Bruton and juniors Vincent Albano and Jesse Summers and posted a nail-biting 58-54 triumph over the pesky Lions.

The Dragons were led by Bruton’s double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals, three assists and one blocked shot; Summers’ 19 points, with three treys and three rebounds; Albano’s 10 points, including two three-point plays, eight steals, six assists and five rebounds; sophomore Cyle Gusse’s three points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals; junior Jack Murphy’s three points and three rebounds; and sophomores Alex Gustafson’s three points and Trevor Welch’s one.

Rounding out the Sonoma varsity boys’ hoops roster – directed by head coach Dennis Housman and assistant coaches Drue Jacobs, Pete Livingston, Sal Chavez and Casey Moll – are juniors Dario Minatta and Matt Robinson; and sophomores Tristan Mertens and Ryan Wilbanks.

The Dragon boys remain home to host new SCL schools Piner and Elsie Allen this Wednesday, Jan. 9, and Friday, Jan. 11, respectively, 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.

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Sonoma’s jayvee boy cagers dropped a 52-44 SCL decision to visiting El Molino Wednesday after posting a 1-2 record in the recent Piedmont Tournament.

Comprising the Dragon jayvee hoops boys – coached by Lee Cambra – are sophomores Diego Alvarado, Kaden Cable, Vince Caruso, Return Bongiovanni, Thomas Crumly, Kyle Dunevent, Ryan Fisher, Jack Hart, Anthony Hamiter, Christian Jimenez and Luke Vaughn; and frosh Kevin Hurtado and Spencer McNairy.

Against El Molino, the Dragons were paced by Hurtado’s double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds; McNairy’s 12 points and seven rebounds; Cable’s eight points and six rebounds; Hamiter’s six points and three rebounds; Vaughn’s four points and five rebounds; and Bongiovanni’s two points.

In the Piedmont Tourney, the Sonoma jayvees defeated Berean Christian 60-35, led by Hurtado’s double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds – the only tourney game leading scorer Hurtado played; McNairy’s 12 points; Cable’s eight points, seven rebounds and four assists; and Bongiovanni’s eight points.

The Dragon jayvees suited only seven boys in their 55-15 defeat to Branson, while pacing Sonoma in its 59-47 loss to host Piedmont were McNairy’s 22 points and Cable’s eight.

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Sonoma’s frosh hoops boys powered past visiting El Molino for a emphatic 60-19 SCL victory on Wednesday after finishing in eighth place at the recent 16-team Cardinal Newman Christmas Tournament in Santa Rosa, where Edwin Reyes was named all-tourney after averaging 19 points a game for the 1-2 Dragons. It was the second-straight all-tourney honors earned by Reyes.

Rounding out the frosh Dragon boys’ roster, coached by Jon Sevenau, are Dylan Bearg, Austin Chapin, Lukas Chipchase, Travis Claeys, Drew Harder, Freddy Padilla, Joe Peterson, Miles Pimentel, Daniel Van Kirk and Max Yankovich.