The Sonoma Valley High School varsity basketball boys sputtered to begin their first-round game in the annual Stokes Tournament in Kelseyville but quickly regrouped, finding their groove and powering to a pair of emphatic wins to an upbeat third-place tourney finish.
After dropping a 73-47 tournament-opening decision to Clear Lake last Thursday that sent them into the loser’s bracket, their second straight double-digit defeat, the Sonoma boys cruised past South Fork for a 59-39 second-round victory on Friday.
Then the Dragons rode their winning momentum and the all-tourney play of sophomore Max Gustafson to an overwhelming 58-33 triumph over fellow Sonoma County League foe and defending SCL and Stokes Tourney champion Elsie Allen on Saturday for a third-place finish.
“We are pleased with our effort and intensity level in the past two games – the boys have begun to own what happens,” said Sonoma head coach Mike Boles, who was assisted by Mike Mertens and Trey Boles. “The players extra efforts and ownership has transferred to playing some good basketball. Our goal is to build on the last two games.”
Leading Sonoma in its win over South Fork were Gustafson’s 16 points, juniors Luke Severson and Colton Mertens’ 11 each, and sophomore Dylan Samaniego’s 10.
The Dragons were led past Elsie Allen by Gustafson and Severson’s 15 points apiece, and Mertens and senior Edwin Reyes with nine each.
Pacing Sonoma in its loss to Clear Lake were Mertens’ 14 points, Severson’s nine, junior Nazir Lyle’s eight, Gustafson’s six, senior Joe Petersen’s three, two each by Samaniego, Reyes and junior Carson Schmick, and junior Miles Marsh’s one.
The Dragon boys continue the non-league part of their schedule facing Jefferson in Daly City tonight, before returning to Pfeiffer Gym to host three straight home games, starting with San Rafael at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10; followed by Middletown at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12; and Terra Linda at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18.
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