Sonoma Valley High basketball Coach Mike Boles has 11 players – including seven seniors – returning from last year’s squad, which means this year’s Dragons have plenty of experience.
But they’re ready to face some competition. The Dragons had a scrimmage scheduled last Saturday at Healdsburg, but it was canceled due to unhealthy air quality from the Camp Fire. The Dragons have another scrimmage set for Saturday against San Marin, and as of Thursday morning, it’s still on. Game times are noon for freshmen, 1:30 p.m. for the JVs and 3 p.m. for the varsity.
Boles was disappointed that last Saturday’s scrimmage was scrubbed because the Greyhounds won the Sonoma County League last year and would have been a good test.
“It’s been a challenging week,” Boles said. Because of the smoke, school was canceled Friday and Tuesday, and Monday was a holiday.
“This gives us a chance to do some more teaching,” the coach said. “We’re working on fundamentals.”
Because the Dragons only lost two seniors from last year’s squad, the 11 returners saw plenty of playing time.
“We have an outstanding group of players – and they’ve been battle tested,” Boles said.
The seniors include George Stewart, Justin Cox, Jack Boydell, Brendan Hogan, Nick Spanger, Tyler Garrett and Trent Garrett. Returning juniors include Reed Hewitt, Luke Sendaydiego, Riley Phelan, and Kahlil Villias. New this year are juniors Noah Fruge, Mason Phillips and freshman Dom Girish.
Boles said the practices have been positive. “And that makes it enjoyable,” he added.
While they’ve been practicing for three weeks, Boles isn’t ready to name a starting lineup. “Playing time will be dictated by practice habits,” he said. “And players will be playing multiple positions.”
Boles is looking for Tyler and Trent Garrett to provide some inside toughness. Boydell is a fierce competitor and Boles is looking for him to score. “Justin (Cox) and Nick (Spanger) are hard-nosed players,” he added.
At 6 foot 6 inches, Boles wants Hogan to be an inside presence, and he said Stewart, who at 5-5 is the shortest on the team, is smart and crafty.
Looking at the juniors, Villias, who saw limited playing time last year because of a knee injury, is a “defensive dynamo,” Boles said. “Riley (Phelan) is coming in to his own,” Boles added. “Reed (Hewitt) will take the reins as our ball handler – and Luke (Sendaydiego) has tremendous positive energy that he carries throughout practices.”
Boles is looking for some outside shooting from Phillips and Fruge, and said Girish will see playing time – “he’s earning it every day.”
The Dragons will start out playing man-to-man defense and want to defend against the three-pointers that have become more and more common with each passing year.
“We’ve also got to get quality shots,” Boles said. “We’ve got to use movement to create open looks and have everybody play unselfishly.”
After Saturday’s scrimmage, the Dragons have three games next week – the Foundation Scholarship game at Santa Rosa High on Tuesday and the annual Alumni Game on Wednesday. Next Saturday, they travel to Piner to open their non-conference schedule.
The Dragons will play in the Novato Tournament Nov. 29-Dec. 1, before hosting their first home game, on Dec. 4 against Pinole Valley.
Sonoma opens up its inaugural Vine Valley Athletic League schedule on Jan. 7 and will be playing three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
“I don’t have any idea what to expect in the VVAL since it’s the first year,” Boles said. Sonoma will play each of the VVAL teams – American Canyon, Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, Petaluma and Casa – twice before the VVAL tournament the first week in February.
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