Sports
November 25, 2008 |
Email This Post
Balanced Lady Dragons team looks to be at top of the SCL class
Tim Livingston | Sonoma Valley Sun
It’s something that basketball fans in Sonoma still talk about. The game that encapsulated the 2007-2008 season for Sonoma Valley Lady Dragons basketball. Two overtimes. A buzzer beater. The greatest single performance in the history of Sonoma Valley High School from Sarah Semenero, who is now playing at Cal Poly Pomona.
Yes, that January matchup against Petaluma, one of the most competitive games played at the high school level in the history of the Redwood Empire, still stands alone as the defining moment Sonoma had last season.
That team won 21 games, won a share of the Sonoma County League championship with Petaluma, and made a great run in the North Coast Section championships behind their senior tri-captains: Semenero, Steph Sevilla and Sheila Brady, before bowing out to Northgate of Walnut Creek in the quarterfinals.
How can a team coming off possibly the best season in school history come back the next season and be expected to stay successful when they lose 75 percent of their offense?
If you ask head coach Sil Coccia, it’s with a team that from top to bottom can be expected to step in and play well when called upon.
“What we have this year is tremendous balance and depth,” says Coccia, “I can call on 1 through 12 on the team and we have the confidence that player can contribute.”
There are five returning members from last year’s team on the roster this season, and like last year, Coccia has instilled his three seniors as his captains: Olivia Phelan, Ashley Meyers and Daryn Kelley. Returning with them are juniors Emma McNeilly and Erin Galut.
They are joined by a nucleus of talent from a jayvee squad that went 24-2 last year and ran through the Sonoma County League undefeated under then head coach Jann Thorpe. She will come up to help Coccia with the varsity team this season and will be joined by long time assistant Steve Semenero.
Perhaps the most interesting player to watch this year for Sonoma will be the lone freshman on the team, Annie Studdert. At 5-feet-10, she’s versatile and raw, but Coccia believes that she’ll be a big help to the team once league play begins.
Coccia credits a lot of good internal competition for getting this team prepared to play this season. The team participated in many offseason workouts, including the new specialized workout program at the Fitness Factory, which has allowed the girls to increase their strength and speed and become more explosive players, as well.
The Lady Dragons will be tested this year, especially in non-league play. Along with their annual trip to San Diego to participate in the Surf N’ Turf Tournament and the Dragon Classic that will take place in Sonoma, the Dragons will face tough foes like Washington of Fremont, Rodriguez of Fairfield and Napa High School.
Once they get into Sonoma County League play, Analy and Windsor are expected to be much improved from last year, but Sonoma and Petaluma are the two favorites expected to win it all this year. While the SCL season goes on, there’s a familiar foe on the schedule on Feb. 7, when the Dragons return to Walnut Creek to take on the team that knocked them out of the NCS Playoffs, Northgate.
Overall, Coccia believes that this team can play well and be a force in the SCL.
“If we stay healthy and stay together, I like our chances to compete for a league championship and get to the playoffs.”
Sonoma starts off their season Dec. 2 when they travel to take on the Santa Rosa Panthers.
1 views