Five double-digit scorers pave the way as Napa Valley College beats Solano in season-finale
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
No matter how the season has gone, it’s always nice to go out with a bang.
However, it’s always nice to honor those who are suiting up for the final time in that uniform as well.
On Friday night, the Napa Valley College men’s’ basketball team was able to do both of them as they defeated Solano 97-93 on Sophomore Night.
“It’s very special to end on a bang just how we did,” Napa Valley College sophomore guard Braxton Adderly explained. “Even though we’re not competing to further our basketball (season), we still played strong.”
The Storm (8-20 overall, 6-10 Bay Valley Conference) held a lead as big as 20 in the contest due in large part to a nice defensive effort.
“Teams can’t run if they don’t score,” Napa Valley College coach Steve Ball explained. “Teams can’t make a run if they don’t score. Even if we’re missing shots, if we’re getting stops we’ll be just fine.”
That’s not to say this game wasn’t exciting. In the final minute of the game, Solano (11-17, 6-10 BVC) cut the Napa Valley lead down to three.
On the night, Napa Valley was led by five double-digit scorers.
In their final game at Napa Valley College, Adderly and Ali-Musa both ended the night with 19 points. Adderly ended the night with a double-double thanks to his ten rebounds on the night, which was a team-high. Ali-Musa, a 2016 Napa High graduate, brought in six rebounds on the night.
“I was being aggressive,” Adderly said of his night. “I figured as my last game I gotta go aggressive. I gotta go out on a good note.”
“My teammates were finding me and I was able to finish my shots,” Ali-Musa explained. “It was all just in-sink tonight. It felt like the four sophomores especially were just playing together.”
Shakir Howard added 16 points and nine rebounds on the night. Jaivon Willams pitched in 13 points and seven rebounds on the night.
Lastly, Zach Swim scored 10 points, which all came in the first half. He also grabbed three rebounds on his birthday.
Going out in style
It was also Sophomore Night, which meant the final game at home for those leaving the college after this year. Adderly, Ali-Musa, Dakota Macias, and Amir Nakhaei were all honored in a pregame ceremony.
Nakhaei scored nine points in his final game and brought in two rebounds. Macias, a 2017 Napa High graduate, also scored eight points on the night to go along with four rebounds.
“Our sophomores did a great job for us,” Ball said of his sophomores. “Three of the four of them have been in the program for four years. I don’t remember what practices look like without having those two guys in here.”
The Storm will return 10 players next season.
