Behind four double-digit scorers, Vintage overcomes early deficit to down Sonoma Valley and take league lead
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
It’s always important to send the Seniors in a program out with a win in what could be their final game on their homecourt.
But, it’s even sweeter when a win is all that’s needed to take over sole possession of the league lead.
In Wednesday night’s massive game, that’s what the Vintage boys’ basketball team was able to accomplish with their 70-63 win over Sonoma Valley. The win also gave the Crushers (15-9 overall, 8-2 Vine Valley Athletic League) the league lead as they near the end of the season.
Yet, it had to be done the hard way, which is being down by double-digits in the first half. Part of the reason Sonoma Valley (14-9, 6-3 VVAL) gained such a large advantage was the fact that they made seven three-point field goals in the first half.
“First of all, we don’t make excuses,” Vintage coach Ben Gongora said. “But we definitely started a little flat. I don’t know why as a coach if I knew that I would obviously fix it. I don’t know if it was because it was Senior Night, I don’t know if it was the ceremony and I’m not going to even try to figure it out. Sonoma came out loose as a goose. I watched them in warm-ups as if I was looking at them under a microscope. They were so loose.”
However, the Crushers also ended the night with four scorers in double figures.
The leader of them all was Imani Lopez who ended the night with 24 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. This isn’t the first time this season the Lopez has scored 20+ points either. On December 2nd, Lopez scored 26 points.
“Imani’s Imani,” Gongora explained of Lopez’s huge night. “How fitting that his best friend is injured and he says ‘I’m going to go for two dozen’?”
Also having a great night was Logan Nothmann. He ended the night with 14 points and a rebound. He also hit his final six free-throws to help seal the game.
In his first start of the season, Josh McCormick added 11 points, all of which came in the third quarter, to go along with six rebounds.
“He was in the zone right there,” Gongora said of the junior. “He was in the zone.”
Finally, Ethan Hemmerlin also scored 10 points and brought down five rebounds.
“Ethan is so crafty,” Gongora continued.
Both teams will continue league play on Friday night at 7 p.m. Sonoma Valley will host Justin-Siena and Vintage will take the trip down Jefferson Street to face crosstown rival Napa.
In the last meetings on January 17th, Sonoma Valley beat Justin-Siena 43-37 and Vintage beat Napa 51-41.
The other league games on Wednesday night saw Petaluma beat rival Casa Grande 60-57 and American Canyon beat Napa 66-51. The full up-to-date VVAL standings can be viewed here.
