B2 PETALUMA ARGUS-COURIER • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

PHS boys miss chance to get back into title chase

Trojans beaten at
home by Piner, fall
in oppportunity
to join SCL race
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
The Petaluma High
School boys basketball
team literally missed its
opportunity to remain in
the chase for the Sonoma
County League pennant
Monday night, losing on
its home court to Piner,
55-48.
Several things did not
go right for the Trojans,
but the biggest problem
was an inability to put the
ball in the basket despite
getting close-in shots and
open looks.
The loss left Petaluma
6-3 in SCL play (12-10 over-
all), a game behind Piner
(6-2) in the loss column,
but two behind Healdsburg
(8-1) with just three SCL
games left on the Trojans’
schedule. The Petalumans
still have a mathematical
chance for a title tie, but it
is a long shot.
Still on the Trojans’
regular-season agenda are
Sonoma Valley (played
Wednesday at Sonoma),
DWIGHT SUGIOKA / FOR THE ARGUS-COURIER
Montgomery in a non-
league game Saturday Petaluma’s Teddy Critchett and Zack Clark battle for a rebound in the Trojans win over Elsie Allen.
afternoon, home against
Analy on Feb. 7 and at full-court press and tried jans inside, led Piner with
Healdsburg on Feb. 9. various defensive tactics 16 points, while Erickson
Neither team shot well as the battle waged on. “We changed our defense four times during the game. Every time finished with 11.
Monday, a testament to “We changed our we slowed them down for a while until they figured it out.” Last week, Petaluma
the body-bruising defense defense four times during put together one of its best
played by both teams. the game. Every time we —Petaluma head coach Scott Behrs scoring games of the sea-
Petaluma’s offense con- slowed them down for a son, blasting El Molino, 79-
sisted primarily of Jack while until they figured 46, in a game played in the
Anderson with side help it out,” noted Petaluma ragged affair, with Pet- minutes. Unable to find the range Lions’ den in Forestville.
from Devin Gottschall. coach Scott Behrs. aluma hanging close on Anderson and Peta- in that last half-minute, Leading just 14-12 after
Despite continued batter- The game was an even the free-throw shooting of luma weren’t finished. and forced to trade fouls the first quarter, Petaluma
ing while working in the tug of wills for almost the Anderson and Gotschall, The senior hit a medi- for possessions, Petaluma scored 20 points in the
paint on both ends of the entire game, with neither while junior guard Scott um-range jumper, and watched the game and second period and then
court, the 6-foot, 4-inch side able to muster more Erickson took over the when he nailed a trey off perhaps a title share slip exploded for 28 points in
Anderson scored 21 points than a five-point advan- leadership role for Piner, a picture-perfect screen away at the foul line where the third period to turn the
and clogged up the Piner tage. After three quarters, popping in a 3-pointer and from Brendan O’Neill, Erickson hit 3-of-4 tries in game into a rout.
driving lanes. Gottschall each team had managed twice driving to the hoop the Trojans were back to the closing seconds. O’Neill led Petaluma
added 10 points. just 32 points. as Piner’s lead jumped within four at 51-47 with 30 Jorge San Roman, who with 16 points, while An-
Petaluma opened with a The final round was a to 48-40 in the final two seconds left. continually hurt the Tro- derson added 15.

Wheels fall off Casa Grande girls fall to Vikings

Gaucho charge Montgomery finds a way to
post second straight 11-point
mination.
Midway through the second
period, Sophia Gardea hit a trey “The girls were ready to
vs. Montgomery victory over Lady Gauchos
By JOHN JACKSON
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR
and Mia Cain worked inside to pull
Casa to within a basket of its hosts
at 13-11.
play. I haven’t seen them
with that much energy all
However, that was all the scoring season.”
Casa Grande comes of big bombs found the Numbers don’t lie. Casa Grande for Casa in the half, and the Lady
mark to account for his 21 High School’s girls basketball team Gauchos broke for intermission —Casa Grande coach Dan Sack,
up short in 63-46 points. Many of his hits has played North Bay League power back down by nine at 20-11. on non-league victory over Alameda
NBL loss to Vikings came off passes from Evan Montgomery twice this season and Things just didn’t get any better
Paulson, who finished with lost to the Lady Vikings both times. for Casa in the second half. Cain,
By JOHN JACKSON 12 points, nine rebounds “We played hard, but they are who had 13 points, kept within est-scoring period of the year.
ARGUS-COURIER SPORTS EDITOR and five assists despite just 11 points better than us,” said seeing, but not catching, distance of Cain led the way. “They tried to
Casa Grande High spending extended time on Casa coach Dan Sack, whose Lady Montgomery through the final two pressure our guards and everything
School’s boys basketball the bench as Montgomery Gauchos were beaten, 42-31, on periods, scoring 11 points on free opened up for Mia,” Sack said. Cain
team was furiously closing coach Zac Tiedemann con- Thursday night in the Montgomery throws in the second half, including scored 21 points in the first half as
the gap between itself and tinually rotated Vikings on gym. The first time around the NBL 6-of-6 from the line at one point. Casa opened up a 42-23 lead.
Montgomery’s free-wheel- and off the court. schedule, Montgomery beat Casa, It just wasn’t enough to slow the In the second half, Alameda
ing Vikings when the Casa Grande received 48-37, in the Casa gym. streaking Lady Vikings, who are collapsed on Cain and she began to
Gauchos suddenly blew scoring from a number In the game’s first possession now 18-4 on the season and 8-2 in kick the ball out to her teammates.
all four wheels simultane- of sources, led by Garrett Thursday, Montgomery had four North Bay League play. She finished with 27 points, and 13
ously. Siebels, who finished with shots at the hoop. The Lady Vikings rebounds.
Playing in its home 13. Isaiah Cappelen and didn’t score, but it set the tone for Big win Freshman Trinity Merwin also
gym Friday night, Casa Scott Nave scored eight game-long Montgomery domination Casa Grande came back from the had a big game for the Lady Gau-
had pulled to within four apiece, Josh Jovick and of the backboards. loss to play what Sack called, “Our chos, scoring 12 points with eight
points (33-29) Tony Sabella Although Montgomery received best game of the year in a 62-35 non- rebounds, seven assists and six
of the ti- “They seemed to call the six each and contributions from several sources, league win at Alameda. steals.
tle-contend- right play at the right Ian Cerruti no Lady Viking was more damaging Sack said the Casa goal is always In the second half, with Alameda
ing Vikings five. to the Lady Gauchos than Shayla to play a whole game with no let defenders collapsing on Cain,
midway
times, and they got some Montgom- Newman, who did it all — handling downs. “We didn’t quite make it,” she fed her teammates and they
through the good looks at the basket.” ery’s bomb- the ball, rebounding and scoring he said. “We had about a 30-second bombed Alameda with 3-pointers.
third period, — Casa Grande coach Jake Lee ing started from both inside and outside. let down at the end of the second Emma Reese hit three bombs for
when its express sudden- early, with the Vikings “She’s a player,” complimented quarter. I’ll take it. nine points and Hannah Sullivan
ly halted. Montgomery connecting on three dis- Sack. “She can score, and when she “The girls were ready to play. I connected on a pair for six points.
zapped off 16 straight tance shots in the opening is covered, she sets up her team- haven’t seen them with that much Katherine Silviera added five points
points, and went on to a quarter for a 17-9 lead. mates.” energy all season.” and Samantha Dedrickson and
63-46 victory. Far from intimidated, Montgomery jumped out to an Casa, as it always does, came Jennifer Loyo two each. Dedrickson
Casa Grande coach Jake the Gauchos went on a 11-4 first-quarter lead, and after out pressing and opened up a 17-13 also pulled down six rebounds.
Lee was at a loss to explain 10-point run paced by that, every time the Lady Gauchos opening quarter lead. “I’m really proud of them,” Sack
the collapse. Siebels’ two treys to move would make a run Newman was The high-scoring first period said. “They brought everything
“They seemed to call to within 20-19. there to answer. was just a warm-up for the Lady they had to the game.”
the right play at the right Then, as quickly as the But the Gauchos managed to stay Gauchos who exploded for 25 points Casa Grande is now 13-9 overall
times, and they got some sprint started, it stopped. in the game on defense and deter- in the second quarter, their high- and 5-5 in league play.
good looks at the basket,” Casa failed to connect
he said. from the floor for the rest
It didn’t help that the of the half and Montgom-
Gauchos, who had han- ery widened its gap back
dled the ball well up to
that point, committed
four turnovers during the
to nine (30-21) by the half.
With Cerruti, Sabella
and Jovick all contribut-
T-Girls top Lobos, look to Analy
Viking splurge. ing baskets, Casa Grande Petaluma runs win streak to win over Elsie Allen in Santa Rosa. out to a 17-5 opening-quarter lead
The contest was a game opened the second half The T-Girls still have their eyes and holding the host team to sin-
of bombs. Montgomery hit with a roar, but then
nine, earns SCL playoff spot on the SCL title and a spot in the gle-digit scoring in every quarter.
on 11 3-point shots, while flamed out and Montgom- by routing Elsie Allen 51-20 North Coast Section playoffs. Most of the T-Girl playing min-
Casa Grande canned nine ery romped to its ninth Petaluma is now 8-0 in the SCL and utes went to bench players.
from beyond the arc. league win in 10 games. ARGUS-COURIER STAFF 17-5 overall with a two-game lead Sheriene Arikat led Petaluma
Harvey Rouleau fired Overall the Vikings are 17- The Petaluma High School girls over Analy with four games left in scorers with eight points. Nine of
at will from long distance, 4. Casa Grande is now 2-8 basketball team is already receiv- the regular season. They can all her teammate also put marks in the
and seven of his array in league and 6-16 overall. ing the rewards for its successful but wrap up the league champion- scorebook.
season. ship when they play at Analy in an Kaileigh Pate scored five points,
Petaluma’s T-Girls ran their afternoon game (2:30 p.m. tipoff) Nichole Costa two, Paris Buchanan
winning streak to nine and in Saturday afternoon. seven, Angelina Scaccalosi six, Bel-
HOW TO REACH US the process clinched a spot in the Petaluma had no trouble with El-
post-season Sonoma County League sie Allen’s Lady Lobos (3-17 on the
la Weinberg four, Kelsy Martin six,
Lilly Catarozoli four, Lilah Bacon
The Argus-Courier encourages coaches to submit game playoffs Thursday night with a 51-20 season and 0-8 in league), jumping three and Jaden Krist six.
results.
■ Phone the sports desk at 776-8466, email them to johnie.
jackson@arguscourier.com or drop them off at any time at
the Argus-Courier office, 719C Southpoint Blvd. Drop into the
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