Rancho Cotate Girls Dunk Piner, Advance To Sectionals

ROHNERT PARK, CA — The powerful varsity girls basketball team from Rancho Cotate High School continued its Cinderella season Friday, knocking off Piner High School of Santa Rosa at Analy High School to advance to the North Coast Sectional tournament. The first round is set against the Newark Memorial Cougars with the Rancho Cotate ladies hosting in their den at the Rohnert Park campus at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 12.

During Friday's game, the Rancho Cotate Lady Cougars took a commanding lead going into the second half 29-14 against Piner High, stretching the margin to 46-25 by the end of the third quarter. Rancho Cotate coach Mario Newton reached into his deep talent on the bench in the second half, giving starters a break.

The final score was 59-37.

Meanwhile, the Newark Memorial girls squad won a thriller Friday against Irvington of Fremont to advance to the NCS dance against Rancho Cotate.

The two Tri-City teams battled to a 27-27 tie going into the final period. However, Newark Memorial outscored Irvington on Irvington's home court 19-13 in the final stanza to come away with a 46-40 victory. Newark Memorial finished league play with a 6-8-0 record.

The Rancho Cotate girls have had an incredible run with an undefeated 10-0-0 league season —a first in 39 years — and an overall record of 24-4-0.

Rancho Cotate has a deep squad with coach Newton rotating players into the game on a regular basis and a tough defense that takes advantage of steals and fast breaks.

The Rancho Cotate squad is seeded No. 6 in the NCS tournament.

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Story and photos by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com