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Sonoma boys nipped by Trojans in finale

Albano’s last-second shot rims off; Bruton honored; JVs, frosh drop final games

In their final game of the 2012-13 season Friday night in Pfeiffer Gym, the Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity basketball boys honored their lone senior, Vincent Bruton, then faced a longtime Sonoma County League rival and jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.

When Bruton got into early foul trouble, visiting Petaluma responded with a 24-6 run and, having built a 24-10 lead midway through the second quarter, threatened to turn it into a rout.

But the young Dragons battled back with a 14-4 run of their own to trail only 28-24 at the half, then came out for the third quarter with a determined energy and rode an inspired Bruton and junior teammates Vincent Albano and Jesse Summers on a 9-0 run to open the third quarter, and when it ended, they had a 38-36 lead.

Then the fourth quarter turned into mostly a free-throw shooting contest, which came down to the wire with the Trojans holding a one-point edge. When Albano’s running shot from the top of the key disheartenly bounced off the rim at the buzzer, Sonoma had been stung with a 47-46 season-ending loss.

Pacing the Dragons were Summers’ 19 points and five rebounds; Albano’s 10 points, four rebounds and two assists; junior Matt Robinson’s six points and three rebounds; Bruton’s four points, seven rebounds and two assists; junior Jack Murphy’s four points and three rebounds; sophomore Cyle Gusse’s three points, five rebounds and three assists; and sophomores Alex Gustafson’s and Trevor Welch’s three rebounds each.

Rounding out the Sonoma varsity boys’ young roster – directed by head coach Dennis Housman and assistant coaches Al Salazar, Casey Moll and Sal Chavez – were junior Dario Minatta and sophomores Tristan Mertens and Ryan Wilbanks.

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In a tightly played season finale, Sonoma’s junior varsity hoops boys battled visiting Petaluma for three quarters before fading in the fourth period and dropping a 45-32 decsion.

Comprising the Dragon jayvee hoops boys – coached by Lee Cambra – were sophomores Diego Alvarado, Return Bongiovanni, Thomas Crumly, Ryan Fisher, Anthony Hamiter, Christian Jimenez and Luke Vaughn; and frosh Kevin Hurtado and Spencer McNairy.

The jayvee Dragons were paced by Fisher’s double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds; McNairy’s eight points and four rebounds; Hamiter’s seven points; Crumly’s two points and three rebounds; and Vaughn’s nine rebounds and Bongiovanni’s three.

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Sonoma’s freshman hoops boys were edged 69-64 by visiting Petaluma in their season finale and finished the SCL season with a 5-5 record.

Every player on the Dragon frosh boys’ team, coached by Jon Sevenau, broke into the scoring column and included Edwin Reyes’ 21 points, Daniel Van Kirk’s 17, Joe Petersen’s 10, Travis Claeys’ and Miles Pimentel’s five each, Austin Chapin’s and Max Yankovich’s two apiece, and Dylan Bearg and Freddy Padilla each had one.