Analy too much for Lady Dragons

One more comeback wasn’t in the cards|

The Sonoma Valley High Lady Dragon cagers found out Saturday that it’s tough to beat the same team three times in a season.

Analy had a lot to prove in Saturday night’s championship game in the Sonoma County League tournament. Sonoma had beaten Analy four straight times dating back to last year and that included last season’s SCL championship game and a game last month at Analy where Sonoma overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and staged a comeback win.

There was no comeback win this time however as the Tigers pretty much controlled the game and walked away with a 45-35 win and the SCL trophy.

The first quarter was fast paced, although defense held the scoring to a minimum. With 3:36 left in the quarter, senior Kayla Field hit a three-pointer that gave the Lady Dragons a 5-4 lead – but it didn’t last long and it was the only time all night Sonoma had the lead.

Analy outscored the Lady Dragons 13-5 in the second quarter and took a 19-10 lead at halftime.

The Tigers scored two quick baskets to start the third quarter and the Lady Dragons were looking at a 13-point deficit. Halfway through the quarter, Field hit a three to pull Sonoma back to a 10-point deficit, but the bigger Tigers were having no part of another comeback.

Sonoma cut the margin to eight points twice in the fourth quarter – once early on and again with about three minutes left – but that was as close as they could get.

Field led the Lady Dragons with 16 points, senior Grace Cutting had seven, senior Alanna Johnston had five, junior Alyssa Schimm had three while senior Katie Stovall and sophomore Annika Ginter had two each.

Sonoma made it to the championship game by beating Piner 31-15 on Thursday.

The win over Piner win wasn’t a pretty win, but at this point in the season, style points aren’t as important as wins.

The Prospectors gave Sonoma all it could handle for the first quarter and part of the second. At one point, Piner even led – albeit by two points. It was a physical game with bodies littering the floor at times.

After a 4-4 first quarter where the Prospectors clogged up the middle and kept the Lady Dragons out of the key, Piner took a 6-4 lead that lasted all of about a minute-and-a-half. Then, the Lady Dragons took charge.

Sonoma went on a 16-0 run and led 20-6 with a little more than two minutes to go in the third quarter.

The Lady Dragons took a 26-9 lead into the fourth quarter where they hit another 6-1/2-minute scoring drought. But they were safely ahead.

By the time the dust – and the bodies – settled, Sonoma had a 31-15 win.

Field led the Lady Dragons with 15 points, Cutting had eight, sophomore Annie Neles had four, Johnston had three and Ginter had one.

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