The preseason has come to an end for the AV Boys teams. Based on those preseason games that we've seen it looks to be a good year for both teams with what we predict will be a winning season for both groups.
The JV boys, who have to share their coach with the varsity, won’t end up with as many games, but they did play three preseason contests against Calistoga (Won 25-20), Sonoma Academy (Won 36-30) and Rio Lindo (Loss 38-28). They are a young team with some experienced players supporting the group due to the size of the Varsity team. Every game is a learning experience for them and they continue to improve. Coach Espinoza is enthusiastic, saying that this team has a lot of potential and can definitely compete with other NCL III teams, possibly challenging for the league title. They open the league season away on January 6 against Potter Valley at 5pm. Their first home game against Mendocino is on January 8 at 5pm.
AV Varsity Panthers have played a full preseason schedule of 12 games in the last 28 days. Watching these returning league champs in action is definitely fun. Their run and gun style, which is reminiscent of teams of old, is definitely appropriate to their size. With Seniors Cesar Soto, Abraham Sanchez, Jared Johnston, and Erin Perez running the top five along with baby brother Sophomore standout Alejandro Soto playing the middle, this team has some serious potential. Supported by Seniors Will Lemons, Joshua Sanchez and Izac Parra along with Juniors Tony Pardini, Gerardo Torales, Christopher Espinoza, and Cristian Natareno who are coming from a championship year at the JV level in 2014, this team is definitely deeper than most AV teams in recent history. At the conclusion of the preseason, AV finished with a respectable 7-5 record, which included wins against two heavily favored Division VI contenders, Archbishop Hanna and Rio Lindo Adventist. If you remember, AV lost to Archbishop Hanna in the Division VI semifinal playoffs last year.
Unlike other teams in our Division, AV has a penchant for taking on the tough teams. In speaking to Coach Espinoza, his mantra has always been “You learn more from a butt whooping than you do from a blowout.” Watching the boys play it’s obvious that based on their style of play in a three game tournament, that requires playing multiple games over a short period, AV has a difficult time at the end of any tournament. This couldn’t be more evident than last weekend when AV faced Upper Lake, a team they had beaten the week before on three days rest.
At the Point Arena Tourney, AV played host Point Arena well, winning by a score of 13 points (67-54). The next night they faced Division IV Willits in the semifinals match. It was a tough game and AV did well starting out but then dug themselves a hole they couldn’t get out of in the second quarter. The Willits players looked gassed and AV made a run bringing the score to within 9 points in the fourth quarter. They just couldn’t get over the hump and lost with a final score of 47-57. We're not big on comparisons, but other NCL III teams haven’t been as competitive as AV against Division IV teams, which is a good sign.
AV entered the game against Upper Lake having run for two games straight and missing starters Jared Johnston (Injury) and Erin Perez (Vacation). AV started out strong scoring 24 points but couldn’t close out Upper Lake on the defensive end allowing them to stay in the game scoring 18. Abraham Sanchez, Cesar Soto, Alejandro Soto, Tony Pardini and Gerardo Torales were playing magnificently. The second quarter saw little change to the score and at halftime it was 35-28. AV added to their lead in the third but you could see the legs starting to give way. AV entered the fourth quarter with a 54-43 lead. After a rocky start to the fourth, the officials took charge and Upper Lake gained on the Panthers eventually tying and then taking the lead with less than a minute left. AV tied with a three point shot with 20 seconds left. While trying to defend Upper Lake getting a shot off AV was called for a foul while in double bonus. Upper Lake sank the two free throws and AV got the ball back with 10 seconds left. As time wound down, a three-point shot was taken from the corner and up, up, up it went striking the rear of the basket and bouncing out to end the game. AV 63 to Upper Lake 65. It was a tough game for the Panthers and four games in five days was a hard task; but the boys did well and earned a well deserved break.
That was followed by two weeks of practice with a small break for Christmas. After the Upper Lake game, Coach Espinoza had nothing but praise for his team. “These boys are great. I look forward to the upcoming league season. While I was misquoted by Chiropractor Jim Young as choosing Round Valley for third, I actually think any team in this league can win on any given day. You have to play the game first. I won’t make any predictions on where I expect these boys to end up. I’ve spent the last eight years coaching these kids and I look forward to the Seniors being successful, no matter where we end up in the standings. Of course I know where I’d like us to be.”
Go Panthers! You can see these high energy players on January 6 in Potter Valley at 8 pm and January 8th at home against league rival Mendocino at 8pm. See you there!
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