Brokers, Pub battle atopmen’s Jack Benny hoops

After reeling off eight straight wins to take sole possession of the top spot in the Sonoma Valley Men’s Recreational Basketball’s Jack Benny (39-and-over) Sunday Night League standings, Heffernan Insurance Brokers were caught by Murphy’s Irish Pub, which pulled into a first-place tie with a March 1, 62-59 victory.

With 8-3 records each as of presstime, Heffernan and Murphy’s lead the Jack Benny pack, followed by third-place R&B Custom Builders (6-5), fourth-place La Salette (5-6), and VOM Fire (3-8), which finally got hot and posted three straight wins to catch Patt’s Copy World (3-8).

In games played March 1, at the Altimira Middle School gym, Murphy’s Irish Pub was led past Heffernan Insurance Brokers by Jeff Kellogg’s 22 points – including four treys – Jamie Svanda’s 15 with three treys, Kiah Ginsburg’s 10, Beni Comma’s nine, Rich Tunheim’s four and John Malinkowski’s two. The Brokers were paced by Gus Halter’s game-high 30 points – including six treys – Kevin Jaggie’s 14, Joe Neely’s seven, Steve Matuszak’s six and Pete Ahern’s two.

VOM Fire scorched R&B Custom Builders 72-55, led by John Aicheson game-high 24 points with three treys, Pat Neely’s 18, Sean Daly’s 16, Edwin Hidalgo’s eight, and Pat Dudy and Jason Campbell’s three each. Pacing R&B were Sal Chavez’s 15 points, Chris Nufo’s 11, Ashish Patel and Andy Chavez’s 10 apiece, Al Martinson’s six, Christian Anguiano’s two and Danny Dwyer’s one.

La Salette upended Patt’s Copy World 57-36, led by John Barr’s game-high 15 points, Marc Traverso’s 12, Kim Batchelder’s 11, Don Fowler’s 10, Kenton Lewis’ six and Manny Azevedo’s three. Patt’s was paced by Max Franks’ 11 points, Ollie Hoban’s 10, Dave Studdert’s nine and Mark Fidler’s six.

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On Feb. 22, Murphy’s Irish Pub toppled Patt’s Copy World 68-52, led by Ginsburg’s game-high 23 points – including seven treys – Kellogg’s 19, Svanda’s 14, Comma’s 10 and Malinowski’s two. Pacing Patt’s were Hoban’s 16 points, Sean Norris’ 15, Fidler’s 10, Franks’ five, Scott Summers four and Jeremy Long’s two.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers downed R&B Custom Builders 72-62, led by Halter’s 23, Neely’s 19, Jaggie’s 12, Ahern’s seven, Matuszak and Clem Moore’s four each, and Brian Stephenson’s three. R&B was paced by Patel’s game-high 26 points – including six treys – Andy Chavez’s 14 with four treys, Sal Chavez’s 13, Martinson’s five and Nufo’s four.

VOM Fire overtook La Salette 58-37, led by Neely’s game-high 26 points with three treys) Dudy’s 12 with four treys, Aicheson’s nine, Hidalgo’s five, Gary Johnson’s four and Daly’s two. Pacing La Salette were Madison Lott’s 15 points, Mike Kellision’s nine, Fowler and Traverso’s four apiece, Batchelder’s three and Lewis’ two.

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In games played Feb. 8, VOM Fire defeated Patt’s Copy World 76-45, led by Neely’s game-high 30 points, Hidalgo’s 22 with five treys, Johnson’s 13 and Sean Lacy’s 11. Patt’s was paced by Norris’ 17 points, Fidler’s 11 with three treys) Mike Mertens’ eight, Long’s five and Franks’ four.

R&B Custom Builders edged Murphy’s Irish Pub 70-64, led by Sal Chavez’s 15 points with three treys) Anguiano and Patel’s 11 with three treys apiece, Martinson’s nine, Evan Valencia’s eight, Dwyer and Nufo’s seven each and Andy Chavez’s two. Pacing Murphy’s were Kellogg’s game-high 28 points with three treys, Comma’s 22 with three treys, Jamie Svanda’s nine, and two each by Malinkowski, Tunheim and Sooter.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers beat La Salette 58-51, led by Neely’s game-high-tying 16 points, Halter’s 14, Jaggie’s 10, and six apiece by Stephenson, Ahern and Moore. La Salette was paced by Traverso’s game-high-tying 16 points, Batchelder’s 14, Kellison’s 12, Lott’s six, Mike Glasbrenner’s two and Fowler’s one.

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On Jan. 25, Heffernan Insurance Brokers doused VOM Fire 67-52, led by Devin Ajax’s 19 points with five treys, Halter’s 17 with three treys) Neely’s 11, Jaggie’s 10, Ahern’s five and Moore’s one. Pacing VOM Fire were Neely game-high 23 points, Aicheson’s 14, Dudy’s five, Daly and Johnson’s four apiece, and Matt Ingersoll’s two.

Murphy’s Irish Pub leveled La Salette 86-37, led by Ginsberg’s game-high 32 points – including six treys – Svanda’s 21 with five treys, Comma’s 12, Kellogg’s 10, and Malinkowski and Tunheim four apiece. La Salette was paced by Lott’s 16 points, Barr’s eight, Lewis’ five, Fowler’s four, and Azevedo and Glasbrenner’s two each.

Patts Copy World topped R&B Custom Builders 58-46, led by Studdert’s 19 points, Franks and Joe Geist’s 12 apiece, Norris’ nine, Fidler’s three, Summers’ two and Long’s one. Pacing R&B were Sal Chavez’s game-high 21 points, Dwyer’s nine, Martinson’s six, Nufo’s five and Andy Chavez’s three.