Reporter’s note: This is the first in a two-part series based on Napa, Vintage,
Justin-Siena, American Canyon, Casa Grande, Petaluma and Sonoma being in the
same league.
Justin-Siena, American Canyon, Casa Grande, Petaluma and Sonoma being in the
same league.
Get out the binoculars. After years of facing East. We turn West.
With Napa Valley high school boys basketball season drawing the curtain on the 2017-2018
campaign, let’s peer into what lies ahead. The next post will involve looking at the girls
basketball landscape.
campaign, let’s peer into what lies ahead. The next post will involve looking at the girls
basketball landscape.
The shakeup will be huge next year for four of the six schools. Calistoga and St. Helena
remain status quo in the North Central League III and I respectively.
remain status quo in the North Central League III and I respectively.
The change part comes involving Justin-Siena, Napa, Vintage and American Canyon.
Justin will part ways with the Marin County Athletic League, where it has been since
2000. Napa and Vintage will vacate the Monticello Empire League, where each has been
since 1975. American Canyon will leave the Solano County athletic Conference, where it
has been since the school opened in 2010.
Justin will part ways with the Marin County Athletic League, where it has been since
2000. Napa and Vintage will vacate the Monticello Empire League, where each has been
since 1975. American Canyon will leave the Solano County athletic Conference, where it
has been since the school opened in 2010.
Beginning the 2018-2019 school year, the landscape will change dramatically for Napa,
Vintage and American Canyon. To a lesser degree it will change for Justin as well. For
Napa, Vintage and American Canyon, no more trips East on Interstate 80 as the move from
the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section, unless they preserve any
longstanding matchups between MEL and SCAC combatants. For Justin, unless they retain
any MCAL teams as nonleague foes, no more trips to Marin County. That would also fall
into the “another story for another time” category. Justin moved from the SJS to NCS in
2000.
Vintage and American Canyon. To a lesser degree it will change for Justin as well. For
Napa, Vintage and American Canyon, no more trips East on Interstate 80 as the move from
the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section, unless they preserve any
longstanding matchups between MEL and SCAC combatants. For Justin, unless they retain
any MCAL teams as nonleague foes, no more trips to Marin County. That would also fall
into the “another story for another time” category. Justin moved from the SJS to NCS in
2000.
Justin, Napa, Vintage and American Canyon will have Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma
as its league foes. The name of the new league is not known at this juncture. By my own
admission, I have followed Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma very little because I have
had no reason.
as its league foes. The name of the new league is not known at this juncture. By my own
admission, I have followed Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma very little because I have
had no reason.
So I decided to do some crack (not to be confused with “on crack”) research on the last
ten seasons involving the aforementioned schools. While that span does not tell the entire
story, it is enough of a sample size to gauge a program’s trajectory.
ten seasons involving the aforementioned schools. While that span does not tell the entire
story, it is enough of a sample size to gauge a program’s trajectory.
Here’s a breakdown of the new league and a look at crossover games that took place last
season. The definition of crossover in this context means the aforementioned Napa schools
against either the North Bay or Sonoma County League:
season. The definition of crossover in this context means the aforementioned Napa schools
against either the North Bay or Sonoma County League:
American Canyon
With the Wolves, there is no 10-year evaluation because the school did not open its doors
until 2010-2011. That season, American Canyon had no varsity sports because there was
only a sophomore class. The 2011-2012 season, there were varsity sports but no seniors.
The Wolves have recorded a 72-115 record in seven varsity seasons.
until 2010-2011. That season, American Canyon had no varsity sports because there was
only a sophomore class. The 2011-2012 season, there were varsity sports but no seniors.
The Wolves have recorded a 72-115 record in seven varsity seasons.
American Canyon went 10-69 in its first three years, one under Nate Rankin and two under
Meshach Osborne. In Brett Wedding’s four seasons, however, the Wolves have gone 61-47
with two CIF Sac Joaquin Section playoff berths. American Canyon defeated Analy (10-18
in 2017-2018) 75-43 in its lone crossover game.
Meshach Osborne. In Brett Wedding’s four seasons, however, the Wolves have gone 61-47
with two CIF Sac Joaquin Section playoff berths. American Canyon defeated Analy (10-18
in 2017-2018) 75-43 in its lone crossover game.
Casa Grande
The Gauchos have been a prime example of fair to midland in going 139-138 the past ten
seasons. The last three, however, show a downward trajectory with a 21-57 season. From
2009-2015, the Gauchos never had a season go south of .500. Their best campaign was
2010-2011, when Casa Grande went 27-6 reaching the semifinals of the North Coast
Section Div. II playoffs.
seasons. The last three, however, show a downward trajectory with a 21-57 season. From
2009-2015, the Gauchos never had a season go south of .500. Their best campaign was
2010-2011, when Casa Grande went 27-6 reaching the semifinals of the North Coast
Section Div. II playoffs.
In 2017-2018, the Gauchos did not play a MEL or SCAC team but their lone MCAL contest
was a 76-75 overtime loss to San Marin (11-16).
was a 76-75 overtime loss to San Marin (11-16).
Justin-Siena
Since Tom Bonfigli resigned at the end of the 2007-2008 season, the last ten years have
mostly been struggles for the Braves. Justin had three consecutive plus-.500 seasons and
an NCS Div. IV playoff win under Ray Particelli, going 52-34 from 2011-2013. The other
seven years, the program took a nosedive in recording a mark of 56-127.
mostly been struggles for the Braves. Justin had three consecutive plus-.500 seasons and
an NCS Div. IV playoff win under Ray Particelli, going 52-34 from 2011-2013. The other
seven years, the program took a nosedive in recording a mark of 56-127.
In 2017-2018, the Braves defeated future league foe Napa (56-35), which went 11-16 as
an MEL team. Justin also had three crossover games, beating El Molino handily on two
occasions (63-33; 63-18). El Molino went 4-20 as a member of the SCL, finishing tied for
last with Elsie Allen (Santa Rosa). Justin lost to SCL champ Healdsburg 37-28.
an MEL team. Justin also had three crossover games, beating El Molino handily on two
occasions (63-33; 63-18). El Molino went 4-20 as a member of the SCL, finishing tied for
last with Elsie Allen (Santa Rosa). Justin lost to SCL champ Healdsburg 37-28.
Napa
The Indians have struggled mightily the past decade in going 89-175 overall with just one
season over the .500 mark, 15-12 in 2013-2014 under Scott Blunt. Five of the past ten
seasons, Napa had five seasons of single digits in victory total.
season over the .500 mark, 15-12 in 2013-2014 under Scott Blunt. Five of the past ten
seasons, Napa had five seasons of single digits in victory total.
In 2017-2018, Napa had five crossover games, losing to future league foes Justin-Siena
(56-35) Petaluma (57-45) and Sonoma (53-14). The Indians also lost 73-38 to Windsor,
which went 22-6 on the way to winning the NBL.
(56-35) Petaluma (57-45) and Sonoma (53-14). The Indians also lost 73-38 to Windsor,
which went 22-6 on the way to winning the NBL.
Petaluma
The first seven seasons of the last ten were a major struggle for the Trojans, going 41-134
from 2009-2015. In that stretch, the Trojans had just one double-figure win total season.
The 2015-2016 campaign, however, looked to be a revival with Petaluma going 19-9 on
the way to the NCS Div. II playoffs. The last two seasons, Petaluma has gone 16-13 and
12-15.
from 2009-2015. In that stretch, the Trojans had just one double-figure win total season.
The 2015-2016 campaign, however, looked to be a revival with Petaluma going 19-9 on
the way to the NCS Div. II playoffs. The last two seasons, Petaluma has gone 16-13 and
12-15.
In 2017-2018, Petaluma had wins over future league foes Vintage (59-44) and Napa
(57-45). The Trojans did not play and MEL or SCAC foes but played three MCAL teams
and one NBL team. Petaluma defeated Terra Linda (76-40), which went winless in MCAL.
The Trojans lost to Novato (48-42) and Redwood (49-46). The former went 10-16 while
the latter was 22-8. Petaluma lost to Santa Rosa (43-42), which went 9-17.
(57-45). The Trojans did not play and MEL or SCAC foes but played three MCAL teams
and one NBL team. Petaluma defeated Terra Linda (76-40), which went winless in MCAL.
The Trojans lost to Novato (48-42) and Redwood (49-46). The former went 10-16 while
the latter was 22-8. Petaluma lost to Santa Rosa (43-42), which went 9-17.
Sonoma
Justin-Siena fans know a familiar face on the sideline for the Dragons. Former Braves girls
head coach Mike Boles has been Sonoma’s boys head coach the last three seasons. On paper,
Boles resigned but some believe he was forced out by the administration. I will never fault
anyone for not airing dirty laundry in public but I digress. The last ten seasons have been a
struggle with the Dragons going 90-172, 33-46 in Boles’ three seasons. Sonoma’s last
winning season was 2004-2005.
head coach Mike Boles has been Sonoma’s boys head coach the last three seasons. On paper,
Boles resigned but some believe he was forced out by the administration. I will never fault
anyone for not airing dirty laundry in public but I digress. The last ten seasons have been a
struggle with the Dragons going 90-172, 33-46 in Boles’ three seasons. Sonoma’s last
winning season was 2004-2005.
Sonoma defeated future league foe Napa (53-14). The Dragons faced two MEL teams,
losing to Vacaville (67-39) and Rodriguez (54-37). The former won the MEL title, going
17-9 while the latter went 11-13. The Dragons also played one MCAL team, defeating
Terra Linda (56-39) and and NBL team, falling to Santa Rosa (57-42).
losing to Vacaville (67-39) and Rodriguez (54-37). The former won the MEL title, going
17-9 while the latter went 11-13. The Dragons also played one MCAL team, defeating
Terra Linda (56-39) and and NBL team, falling to Santa Rosa (57-42).
Vintage
The Crushers have enjoyed a couple of brief spikes but other than that, the last ten seasons
have been tough sledding. Vintage has compiled a ten-year record of 109-152. The Crushers
had three straight winning seasons in going 46-33 from 2010-2012 and also recorded a mark
of 15-13 in 2014-2015. The aforementioned stretch from 2010-2012, however, was followed
by two years of going 10-41.
have been tough sledding. Vintage has compiled a ten-year record of 109-152. The Crushers
had three straight winning seasons in going 46-33 from 2010-2012 and also recorded a mark
of 15-13 in 2014-2015. The aforementioned stretch from 2010-2012, however, was followed
by two years of going 10-41.
In 2017-2018, the Crushers lost to future league foe Petaluma (59-44). The Trojans went
12-15 overall as a member of the SCL.
12-15 overall as a member of the SCL.
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