Reporter’s note: This is the second 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.
What’s up is down and what’s old is new.
With Napa Valley high school girls basketball season drawing the curtain on the
2017-2018 campaign, let’s peer into what lies ahead. On Sunday, we looked at the
landscape as it pertains to boys basketball:
2017-2018 campaign, let’s peer into what lies ahead. On Sunday, we looked at the
landscape as it pertains to boys basketball:
Today, girls basketball is the focal point.
The landscape will change 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. There are a few worth
retaining but that is another story for another time. 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. There are a few worth
retaining but that is another story for another time. 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 league is Vine Valley Athletic League. 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 league is Vine Valley Athletic League. 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.
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 had mostly uphill terrain to climb in their brief history, going 64-114.
From 2014-2016 (one under Jill Stewart, the other two under Kate Shipp-Roberts),
American Canyon went 42-37 with two CIF Sac Joaquin Section playoff appearances.
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 had mostly uphill terrain to climb in their brief history, going 64-114.
From 2014-2016 (one under Jill Stewart, the other two under Kate Shipp-Roberts),
American Canyon went 42-37 with two CIF Sac Joaquin Section playoff appearances.
In 2017-2018, the Wolves lost to future league foes Sonoma (43-18) and Vintage (43-36).
American Canyon also played two crossover NBL contests, losing to Rancho Cotate
(65-29) and Santa Rosa (47-36). The two programs went 13-14 and 12-14 respectively.
American Canyon also played two crossover NBL contests, losing to Rancho Cotate
(65-29) and Santa Rosa (47-36). The two programs went 13-14 and 12-14 respectively.
Casa Grande
The Gauchos ten-year record of 163-118 under coach Dan Sack looks sparkling at first
glance but is skewed by the three-year stint of 2010-2012, during which time Casa Grande
went 70-23. The Gauchos went 31-3 in 2011-2012, reaching the NCS D-II title game before
losing to Carondelet. Every season since then, Casa Grande has never finished more than
three games above .500 nor less than one under the break-even point.
glance but is skewed by the three-year stint of 2010-2012, during which time Casa Grande
went 70-23. The Gauchos went 31-3 in 2011-2012, reaching the NCS D-II title game before
losing to Carondelet. Every season since then, Casa Grande has never finished more than
three games above .500 nor less than one under the break-even point.
In 2017-2018, the Gauchos played one MCAL school, losing to Marin Catholic (48-40),
which went 22-5.
which went 22-5.
Justin-Siena
Whether the coach has been Marsha Niemann, Frank Bozzini, Bruce Halverson, Mark Dunn,
Mike Boles or Andrew Bettencourt, the Braves have a rich tradition with three section
championships and numerous postseason victories. The last three seasons, however, Justin
has flatlined to a 40-44 record.
Mike Boles or Andrew Bettencourt, the Braves have a rich tradition with three section
championships and numerous postseason victories. The last three seasons, however, Justin
has flatlined to a 40-44 record.
In 2017-2018, the Braves went 2-1 against future league foes, defeating Sonoma (44-37)
and Napa (57-47) along with a loss to Vintage (66-56). Justin also lost to Healdsburg
(45-38), which went 18-9.
and Napa (57-47) along with a loss to Vintage (66-56). Justin also lost to Healdsburg
(45-38), which went 18-9.
Napa
Though the Indians plummeted to a 10-16 mark this past season, don’t expect the program
to stay down for long if history plays a role. In her 14 seasons, Napa has compiled a
260-136 record under head coach Darci Ward. Though the Indians postseason success
has been minimal since a 31-3 campaign in 2004-2005, the program has had just three
sub-.500 seasons in Ward’s tenure. Each time, the team bounced back in short order
(12-15 in 2006-2007 to 20-9 in 2008-2009; 6-21 in 2010-2011 to 14-13 in 2011-2012;
10-16 in 2017-2018 to stay tuned in 2018-2019).
to stay down for long if history plays a role. In her 14 seasons, Napa has compiled a
260-136 record under head coach Darci Ward. Though the Indians postseason success
has been minimal since a 31-3 campaign in 2004-2005, the program has had just three
sub-.500 seasons in Ward’s tenure. Each time, the team bounced back in short order
(12-15 in 2006-2007 to 20-9 in 2008-2009; 6-21 in 2010-2011 to 14-13 in 2011-2012;
10-16 in 2017-2018 to stay tuned in 2018-2019).
In 2017-2018, Napa played two future league foes, losing to Justin-Siena (57-47) and
beating American Canyon (52-28). The Indians also had a combined four crossover NBL
and SCL contests. Napa defeated Santa Rosa (12-14), 42-40, and Analy (13-14), 53-44.
Conversely, the Indians lost to Sonoma (14-13), 52-44, and Windsor (11-15), 58-34.
beating American Canyon (52-28). The Indians also had a combined four crossover NBL
and SCL contests. Napa defeated Santa Rosa (12-14), 42-40, and Analy (13-14), 53-44.
Conversely, the Indians lost to Sonoma (14-13), 52-44, and Windsor (11-15), 58-34.
Petaluma
The Trojans have a ten-year record of 166-112 since 2008-2009 but there have been more
peaks and valleys than their record indicates. Petaluma has had four 20 plus win seasons
but also have three seasons in that span where they failed to reach double figures in victory
total. The Trojans went 23-5, undefeated in SCL on the way to a title, this past season after
going 18-35 the previous two campaigns.
peaks and valleys than their record indicates. Petaluma has had four 20 plus win seasons
but also have three seasons in that span where they failed to reach double figures in victory
total. The Trojans went 23-5, undefeated in SCL on the way to a title, this past season after
going 18-35 the previous two campaigns.
In 2017-2018, the Trojans played two MCAL teams, losing to Novato (48-42) and beating
Terra Linda (53-44). The former went 16-11 and the latter had a mark of 10-16.
Terra Linda (53-44). The former went 16-11 and the latter had a mark of 10-16.
Sonoma
The Dragons have a ten-year mark of 163-122 since 2008-2009 that is slightly skewed by
their three-year record of 66-23 from 2015-1017. Sonoma went 14-13 this past season.
Besides that stretch, Sonoma has been fair-to-midland being on either side of the .500
plateau by a few games.
their three-year record of 66-23 from 2015-1017. Sonoma went 14-13 this past season.
Besides that stretch, Sonoma has been fair-to-midland being on either side of the .500
plateau by a few games.
In 2017-2018, the Dragons defeated future league foes American Canyon (43-18) and
Napa (52-44) and lost to Justin (44-37). Sonoma also played two crossover games, losing
41-29 to Novato (16-11) and scoring a 54-30 win over Santa Rosa (12-14).
Napa (52-44) and lost to Justin (44-37). Sonoma also played two crossover games, losing
41-29 to Novato (16-11) and scoring a 54-30 win over Santa Rosa (12-14).
Vintage
Though the last ten years have been mostly losing campaigns (108-147), the Crushers
enter their new era on a high, having gone 35-20 the past two seasons since Joe Donohoe
took over the program. Vintage also won the MEL title, its first since 1985. To use a
stock market term, Vintage would be in the “trending up” category. The previous four
seasons, the Crushers had gone 26-81.
enter their new era on a high, having gone 35-20 the past two seasons since Joe Donohoe
took over the program. Vintage also won the MEL title, its first since 1985. To use a
stock market term, Vintage would be in the “trending up” category. The previous four
seasons, the Crushers had gone 26-81.
In 2017-2018, the Crushers defeated future league foes Justin (66-56) and American
Canyon (43-36). Vintage also had two crossover games (one each for NBL and SCL),
losing both. The Crushers fell to Analy (13-14), 37-35, and Santa Rosa (12-14), 31-27.
Canyon (43-36). Vintage also had two crossover games (one each for NBL and SCL),
losing both. The Crushers fell to Analy (13-14), 37-35, and Santa Rosa (12-14), 31-27.
