Sports

Rancho Cotate Girls Basketball Celebrates Historic NBL Win

Until Tuesday night, the Lady Cougars had not won the North Bay League Redwood Division pennant since 1980.

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ROHNERT PARK, CA — Rancho Cotate High School's girls varsity basketball squad cruised to an historic 58-43 victory over El Molino High of Forestville to win a North Bay League Redwood Division pennant Tuesday night — a feat not accomplished by the Lady Cougars since 1980, some 39 years ago.

Coach Mario Newton along with assistant coach Charles Buckley led the team in its fantastic journey of going undefeated with a 10-0 record in league play to earn the pennant.

Standouts in Tuesday's game included Keyonee Neal, Teiya Fronda and Makenna Menton-Porter.

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Rancho Cotate team put the game away immediately after the halftime break, hitting five consecutive baskets thanks to a press and a ruthless defense causing turnovers.

An outsized and outgunned El Molino squad was not able to get a basket until there were less than two minutes left in the third quarter.

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The next stop for Rancho Cotate is against Piner High at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 at Analy High School in Sebastopol for the North Bay League Redwood championship.

Next week will be the North Coast Section playoff.

Team photo courtesy Michelle Phillips

Jessica Phillips of Rancho Cotate varsity girls team drives to the basket, Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)

Rancho Cotate's Makenna Menton -Porter, No. 33, drives to the basket in the second half against El Molino, Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)

Rancho Cotate's Makenna Menton-Porter, No. 33, drives to the basket in the second half against El Molino, Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)


Story and photos by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com

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