Terra Linda topples Dragon boys

A week after their 85-point, four-overtime marathon road win, the Sonoma Valley High School’s varsity basketball boys couldn't keep up their offensive pace, tallying less than 40 points and unable to hold their home court advantage in being dealt a nonleague loss.

Bogged down on offense, and defensively being out-quicked around the basket and in the paint, the Dragons dropped a 58-37 decision to a quick, well-tuned, athletic Terra Linda team Friday night in Pfeiffer Gym.

After the visiting Trojans opened the game with a 7-0 burst, Sonoma battled back, but still trailed 16-9 at the end of the first-quarter. With back-to-back buckets by senior Jesse Summers and junior Ryan Wilbanks to start the second period, the Dragons cut the deficit to three at 16-13.

But that's as close as the Dragons would ever get as Terra Linda went on a 14-4 run to close the half leading 30-17, and coasted through the second half en route to leaving the Valley with a 58-37 win.

Pacing Sonoma  were Wilbanks' nine points, three rebounds and two assists; junior Tristan Mertens’ eight points and four rebounds;  junior Cyle Gusse's six points, seven rebounds, five steals and two blocked shots; senior Jack Murphy’s six points and three rebounds; Summers’ four points and three rebounds; senior Vinny Albano’s two points and two steals; and junior Noe Baron's three rebounds.

The Dragons will compete in the tough annual Marin Catholic Tournament starting this Thursday, Dec. 26, and running through Monday, Dec. 30, before playing in their final nonleague game at Windsor on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Sonoma’s boys then open their Sonoma County League campaign at Healdsburg on Tuesday, Jan. 7, followed by SCL road games at Petaluma and El Molino on Jan. 11 and 14, before finally returning home to host league foe Piner on Thursday, Jan. 16.

•••

Sonoma’s junior varsity hoops boys fell 57-30 to Terra Linda and were paced by sophomore Spencer McNairy's 12 points, sophomore Edwin Reyes' nine, sophomore Max Yankovich's four, sophomore Austin Chapin's three and sophomore Travis Claeys' two.