Hoops title hopes on line here tonight

There’s a big hoops showdown tonight in the Valley, with a likely title on the line.

In their Sonoma County League opener a month ago, the Sonoma Valley High School varsity basketball girls edged defending champion Analy in Sebastopol and preceded to win five more games in a row to stand unbeaten at 6-0 and alone in first place after the first half of the SCL schedule was played.

But last week the Lady Dragons were served a payback for an earlier one-sided loss by longtime rival Petaluma and now find themselves in a three-team title chase.

Tied for the SCL’s top spot with 6-1 records each are Sonoma and Analy, which handed Petaluma its second loss.

So this evening’s highly anticipated rematch between first-place-tied Sonoma and Analy could, and most likely will, decide the SCL champion, or possible co-champion, even though there would still be four more regular-season games remaining.

The Lady Dragons host Analy at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Pfeiffer Gym – the freshmen game is at 4:30, and the junior varsity play at 6 p.m. – and a win would put them in the driver’s seat en route to winning the outright title when looking to how they fared against their final four opponents.

If the visiting Tiger girls win, then they’ll take the upperhand in the title hunt, though they would still have to face Petaluma again, which brings the co-championship into play.

But all the scenarios are on hold until after tonight’s showcase, which will feature two solid, well-coached teams battling for the league crown.

The Lady Dragons continue SCL play traveling to Forestville Thursday evening, Feb. 5, to play El Molino, before returning home to host Piner in a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday night, Feb. 7, in Pfeiffer Gym.