It may have taken overtime to finish the job, but the Napa Grizzlies ultimately got the result they hoped for on Thursday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Sonoma Valley and snuck past 63-60. Having run the score up that high, both teams probably have some extra defensive drills coming up.
Napa's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Eli Mindle, who scored 18 points along with seven rebounds and two steals. Jayden Quintana was another key contributor, scoring 19 points along with five steals.
Sonoma Valley's loss came despite strong showings from Hudson Giarritta and Vinny Girish. Giarritta dropped a double-double on 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Girish scored 12 points along with five rebounds and three steals. Giarritta continues to roll, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Matt Jordan, who scored seven points.
The win (which was Napa's third in a row) raised their record to 8-11. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of three points across that stretch. As for Sonoma Valley, they are on a seven-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 8-12.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Napa on the road again on Saturday and play against Casa Grande at 7:00 p.m. on January 20th. As for Sonoma Valley, they will face off against Petaluma at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Petaluma presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than Sonoma Valley in California (Petaluma is ranked 119th, while Sonoma Valley is ranked 698th).
