It was a game that isn’t going to count in the stats. And it got a little ragged in the fourth quarter, but the Sonoma Valley High Dragons just missed a chance Tuesday evening to beat Casa in the annual Foundation Game.
The Foundation Games are put on by the North Coast Section and the proceeds (half the gate) goes to the NCS for its scholarship program.
Dragon Coach Mike Boles took the opportunity to schedule Casa, a Division 2 school, and an opponent starting next year in the yet-to-be-named league along with Petaluma, Napa, Vintage, American Canyon and Justin-Siena.
The Dragons didn’t fare badly – they lost a four-point decision, 47-43.
Sonoma took an early lead, but Casa came back and tied the game at 9-9, and then took a 14-9 lead after the first quarter.
Casa stretched its lead in the second quarter to a dozen points by halftime, 27-15.
But the Dragons came back and used an 8-2 run early in the third quarter to pull to within six at 29-23. The Gouchos, though, pushed the lead by to nine, 39-30, by the end of the third quarter.
The Dragons pulled to within four midway through the fourth quarter when Nick Spanger hit a bucket and the Dragons were within striking distance. When Tyler Garrett hit a trey in the last minute, Sonoma only trailed by three, but the Dragons, in two trips down the floor, couldn’t get a shot off.
Dylan Samaniego led the Dragons with 13, Riley Phelan had 10, Jack Boydell had seven, Garrett had five, Max Gustafson had four, while Spanger and Kahlil Villas Martinis each had two.
Sonoma starts its season in earnest next Tuesday when they host Maria Carrillo. Game times are frosh, 4 p.m., JV at 5:30 and the varsity tips off at 7 p.m.
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