Here is a look at where we stand as the league races go past the quarter pole.
NBL BOYS
This race took a turn in a moment’s notice.  That moment’s notice was Windsor defeating Cardinal Newman.
At 4-0 Casa Grande has a one game lead over, in alphabetical order, Cardinal Newman, Montgomery and Windsor. Unless there is a collapse, those will be the four teams in the NBL post season tournament.

Over the next two weeks, there is one game a night with the leaders meeting each other.
After the games are played on Monday, January 26th the league race will be at the halfway point.  That means everybody would have played everybody once.  That is three games away.
This week, Montgomery hosts Windsor on Tuesday and then goes to Casa Grande on Thursday.  After the game with Montgomery, Casa Grande goes to Cardinal Newman on the 26th.
On January 28th, the second half begins with Montgomery at Cardinal Newman.
 
SCL BOYS
Analy defeated Piner, who defeated Elsie Allen, who defeated Analy.
That in a nutshell is the SCL race for first.
One other team is in position to spoil the three team race and that is Sonoma Valley, when they host Elsie Allen this Friday Night.  Sonoma Valley is 2-2 in league play, with the losses to Analy and Piner.
If you go by home court advantage, Piner has an edge.  They get Elsie Allen and Analy at home.  Analy has to go on the road to meet the other two.
The next time the three leaders have a game is on January 30th, when Elsie Allen travels to Piner.
NCL I BOYS
This race also turned at a moments notice.  That was on Friday night, when Middletown defeated Cloverdale 41-35.
There are no undefeated teams in this race.  Cloverdale, Kelseyville and Willits are all 3-1.  Lower Lake, Middletown and St. Helena are a step back at 2-2.
Before the first half is over, Kelseyville travels to Willits.  Both of those teams’ league losses are to Cloverdale.
NBL GIRLS
The moment of truth is here.
This Wednesday Cardinal Newman is at Santa Rosa.

Cardinal Newman and Santa Rosa are both 5-0 in league play and it’s a convincing 5-0.  The closest game of the ten is Cardinal Newman’s 55-36 win over Windsor.
Montgomery and Windsor are tied for second at 3-2.  Windsor’s losses are to the two leaders.  Montgomery still has to host Santa Rosa before the first half is over.
Casa Grande is one game behind Montgomery and Windsor for the final post season tournament spot.
For the top spot this is looking like Cardinal Newman or Santa Rosa.  Cardinal Newman went into the season as favorites. Santa Rosa has kept pace, despite the concussion injuries to Devin Murray.  It is now twice that she has had the injury this season and three time in total.  There is no telling when she will return, if at all.
SCL GIRLS
Sonoma Valley is the only undefeated league team left at 4-0 and they have wins over the teams that are considered the main contenders.
Analy is second at 3-1, with the loss to Sonoma Valley.
Healdsburg, Petaluma and Piner are all 2-2.
The Healdsburg and Petaluma losses are to the two leaders.  Petaluma is at Healdsburg this Tuesday.  Also on Tuesday Sonoma Valley goes to Piner.
Healdsburg also hosts Piner on Thursday.
NCL I GIRLS
This race changed twice in one week. First it was the anticipation of the Friday Night Middletown-Cloverdale game, which was setting up to be between two undefeated teams.  Middletown lost to Kelseyville on Tuesday, to ruin the undefeated matchup.  Then on Friday they defeated Cloverdale.
So Cloverdale, Clear lake, Middletown and Willits are all 3-1.
On Tuesday, Clear Lake is at Middletown, so that will take care of one part of the four way tie.
A week from Tuesday, Cloverdale is at Clear Lake.  That will take care of another part of the tie, as the first half ends.
MLK DAY
The NBL-SCL Girls games which were a fixture over the past couple of years on Martin Luther King Day aren’t happening.  Still there is a busy Monday on tap.
NON LEAGUE
Casa Grande at Redwood
Sonoma Valley at Maria Carrillo
Windsor at Marin Catholic
Also on Monday there is a Boys Game with Antioch at Santa Rosa.
MAX PREPS STATS
This is a continuing series of honoring players of teams that post stats to MaxPreps.
BOYS
Demetri Morton Rancho Cotate…The Cougars are having a tough season.  They are a young team with only two seniors.  Morton is a sophomore averaging 9.4 a game.  That was after scoring 12 points combined in the first three games.
Landon Courtman, Healdsburg…The 6’ 6” sophomore is averaging a double-double, 14.8 points and 10.9 rebounds.  He has had ten double-doubles in sixteen games.
Kyle Ellis, Kelseyville…Another sophomore is averaging 14.2 a game.  He has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games, hitting the 20 point mark three times.
GIRLS
Grace Cutting, Sonoma Valley…Yes, another sophomore, who averaging 7.6 a game.  She has scored in double figures the last four games.  We would mention other SCL Girls teams, but Sonoma Valley is the only team in league that is posting at Max Preps. One of the reasons, I have heard over the years, is they don’t use MaxPreps because that it is a scouting tool for other teams.  Sonoma Valley is the only undefeated league team in the SCL race.
Chanel Alexander, Willits…Sophomore day continues.  She is averaging 12.6 and has scored in double figures in six straight games including a season high 29 Friday night, in a 57-45 win over Lower Lake.
Kylie Odom, Santa Rosa…A senior sneaks in.  Averaging 13.2 a game and that doesn’t includes a 23 point game Saturday night in a win over Rancho Cotate.  It is the third game of the season that she has hit the 20 point mark.  She is also averaging nearly four assists, over four rebounds, over two steals and just less than two blocks a game.
My email address is jacpasquini@comcast.net