MCAL soccer, hoops seasons finally underway
The MCAL basketball and soccer campaigns kicked off last week with the single round-robin format magnifying the important of each game.
Redwood and Branson battled each other in all four openers — games that could go a long way to deciding who wins regularseason titles this year.
Other highlights included the Tam girls soccer team opening the season with a hat trick, the Archie Williams boys basketball team netting an impressive victory, plus the Novato girls basketball team earning its first MCAL win in five years.
WHITNEY COLLET, BRANSON GIRLS SOCCER >> Collet provided the decisive moment in the marquee soccer match of the weekend, scoring off a long free kick to lift Branson to a 2-1 road win against Redwood on Saturday. Collet took a free kick near the left sideline about 35-40 yards from goal and fired her shot into the far side netting. The Bulls opened the league campaign with a victory against one of their chief rivals for the title.
MAREN JONES, TAM GIRLS SOCCER >>
Jones found the back of the net three times to lift Tam to a league-opening 3-1 victory against San
Marin on Saturday. Jones scored following assists from Sabine Szylko and Ruby Reis, and also scored on a free kick from about 25 yards out. Jones also scored earlier in the week during a 2-1 victory against Montgomery. TRISTAN SCHAUBLE AND MALCOLM ZALAYET, MARIN ACADEMY BOYS SOCCER >> Schauble created three goals and Zalayet scored three times as MA opened up play in the Bay Counties League West with a 5-0 rout of Stuart Hall on Friday. Zalayet's
hat trick boosted his season total to 16 goals in nine games. Schauble has five assists and moved into a tie for the team lead with River Jones.
KITTY WHITE, REDWOOD GIRLS BASKETBALL >> The sophomore power forward posted one of her best games to date with 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Giants opened league with an impressive 54-36 win against Branson on Friday night. The Giants trailed by a point at the
half before White scored 11 third-quarter points to help Redwood take control of the game for good.
IZZY MCFADDEN, MARIN CATHOLIC GIRLS BASKETBALL >>
McFadden hit double-digits in scoring in all three games this past week as MC went 2-1 including a big victory in its league opener against Archie Williams on Friday night. McFadden led the team in scoring in all three games — 17 in a loss to Bishop O'Dowd, 12 against Archie
Williams, and 11 in a 45-32 win against Miramonte on Saturday night.
AMELIA THOMAS, MARIN ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL >> Thomas posted an impressive double-double with points and steals while outscoring Convent by herself during a league-opening 42-13 win on Friday night. Thomas scored 21 points and swiped 10 steals to lead MA in both categories.
ARI PLASCENCIA, NOVATO GIRLS BASKETBALL >>
Plascencia scored 10 points to lead the Hornets as they ended a five-year losing streak in MCAL competition with a 25-19 victory against Terra Linda on Friday. The Hornets, who have been emphasizing defense under new coach Dan Curtaz, had gone five years to the day between MCAL victories having last won an overtime game against San Rafael on Jan. 5, 2019.
FINLEY KEEFFE, BRANSON BOYS BASKETBALL >>
Keeffe scored 11 of his 15 points during a key second-quarter run that helped Branson to a 54-48 victory in a showdown against Redwood in the MCAL opener for both teams. Redwood trailed by a point before the Bulls, led by Keeffe, reeled off a 14-1 run before the half. The Giants made it close down the stretch but Branson held on. Keeffe scored a teamhigh 15 points, adding four rebounds and three steals. Keeffe also scored 18 points in a 79-60 victory against a tough University High squad earlier in the week. TRAVIS FLICK AND JOSHUA DEVORE, NOVATO BOYS BASKETBALL >> Flick capped a 3-0 week for the Hornets by hitting a last-second winner in a 57-54 non-league win against San Rafael on Saturday night. Flick's late 3-pointer gave him 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulldogs while DeVore also posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Flick had 20 points and eight rebounds in a league win against Terra Linda on Friday with DeVore adding 18 points and eight boards. DeVore had a 19-point, 12-rebound effort in a win against Point Arena earlier in the week. Flick added 13 points, seven rebounds and six steals. OWEN BUGAS AND GRADY STEWART, ARCHIE WILLIAMS BOYS BASKETBALL >> Bugas and Stewart were key cogs in a three-point onslaught as the Peregrine Falcons opened MCAL with an impressive 6847 win against Marin Catholic on Friday night. Both players hit four 3-pointers in the game with Bugas netting a team-high 23 points and Stewart following closely behind with 22 points. Bugas added eight rebounds and three assists. Stewart dished out five assists.