The Analy Lady Tiger basketball squad wrapped up a productive
summer last weekend, capturing the championship at the annual
Summer Heat hoops tournament in Healdsburg.
Analy was easily the class of the three-day tourney, posting
wins over Windsor, (49-28), Maria Carrillo (35-20), Fortuna
(42-27), Healdsburg (49-35), and McKinleyville (38-28). The ladies
overcame minor injuries and a cold shooting performance to defeat
Sonoma in Sunday’s title game, 38-31.
“That was our last tournament heading into the new school year
and we hope the break will give us time to rest and get ready to
compete for the top spot in the SCL (next winter),” said Analy
coach Earl Pasamonte, assisted by coaches Jessica Bull and Andrew
Schuster. “As a team we have a goal to win league, and I believe
the girls will do the work to make that a very realistic
goal.”
Defense was the key to Summer Heat success for the Tigers,
holding four of six opponents to under 30 points. The offense did
the rest, helped in large part by great performances from
all-league guard Jen Tsurumoto, guards Carly Tansil, Molly
Schuster, and Katy Lowry, forward Chelsea Pricert, and center
Shelby Paolino.
Other key contributors included Hana Lamb, Kelley Benck,
Savannah McNichol, Courtney Deidrich, Eva Teekasingh, and Keaton
Wheeler.
In perhaps the marquee match-up of the tournament, the Lady
Tigers turned back defending champion McKinleyville, a team that
had schooled Analy in previous tourney meetings.
The result could well be a harbinger of greater things to come
next season.
“That was by far our most physical game, noted Pasamonte.
“Shelby Paolino played one of her best defensive games I’ve seen
since taking over the program, holding McKinleyville’s best player
to eight points. Tsurumoto had her best game offensively of the
tournament, repeatedly taking her defender to the basket. As a
team, we executed our defensive game plan to perfection.”
Tsurumoto and Paolino were both named to the all-tourney
squad.
With four of five starters poised to return this winter, the
Lady Tigers may be stamped as early favorites to unseat three-time
defending SCL champion Petaluma.
