Boys
Division 5
No. 1 Sonoma Academy 48, No. 9 Middletown 42
The Coyotes checked off two more milestones in what’s become a historic season with their comeback victory over the Mustangs in the second round of the North Coast Section playoffs Friday night in Santa Rosa.
This is now the most wins in a season in program history for Sonoma Academy (22-5) and the first time that they’ve advanced to the semifinals of the section playoffs.
Middletown (19-9), the champs of the NCL I, didn’t make it easy.
In their second meeting of the year – Middletown won the first 54-51 – the Mustangs led most of the way before a fourth-quarter rally by the Coyotes.
Sophomore Marcel Nsizoa Ndi led the charge, scoring 10 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth.
The Coyotes tailed 33-28 after three and were down 37-31 early in the fourth before the comeback.
Nsizoa Ndi also sealed the game in the final seconds, forcing a steal and taking it all the way for a dunk to push the final margin from four to six.
Sonoma Academy will have a rematch with a regular-season opponent for the third straight game in the semifinals Tuesday night when they host No. 4 seed Drew (20-10), which beat the Coyotes 64-61 in early January.
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.
Girls
Division 5
No. 10 Sonoma Academy 51, No. 2 Albany 31
The Coyotes pulled off a huge upset on the road Friday night to advance to the section semifinals for the second straight year.
Sonoma Academy (15-10) led 24-16 at halftime and gradually pulled away from the Cougars (15-11) throughout the second half.
Summer Weiner hit five three-pointers en route to a game-high 24 points. Siena Jasper added 13 points and Layla Zekarias chipped in 11.
The Coyotes will play at No. 6 seed San Domenico (11-13) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday
Open Division
No. 3 Piedmont 66, No. 6 Cardinal Newman 45
The Cardinals hung tough with the No. 29 team in the state, but the host Highlanders pulled away in the fourth quarter Thursday night for the win.
Newman (21-8), which will play again Wednesday, trailed just 47-41 heading to the fourth quarter before being outscored 19-4 in the final frame. The Cardinals shot just 29.8% from the field and couldn’t recover from 21 turnovers.
Macie Flores scored 16 points while Avery Vinson added 15 for Newman.
The Cardinals will face No. 5 seed Bishop O’Dowd in Wednesday’s fifth-place game. All teams in the Open Division will advance to the Northern California tournament in two weeks.
Other scores
Division 1: No. 1 Redwood 62, No. 9 Maria Carrillo 28
Division 5: No. 4 Healdsburg 35, No. 5 Credo 28
NCS Playoff Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 21
Boys
Division 2
No. 2 Cardinal Newman vs. No. 7 San Lorenzo, 7 p.m.
No. 8 Casa Grande at No. 1 University-San Francisco, 7 p.m.
Division 4
No. 2 Rancho Cotate vs. No. 10 Montgomery, 5:30 p.m.
Division 6
No. 1 St. Vincent vs. No. 8 Jewish Community, 7 p.m.
Girls
Division 2
No. 3 Justin-Siena vs. No. 11 James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 8 American Canyon at No. 1 Salesian, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Sonoma Valley at No. 5 Lick-Wilmerding, 7 p.m.
Division 4
No. 1 Rancho Cotate vs. No. 9 Vintage, 7 p.m.
No. 3 St. Helena vs. No. 6 Marin Academy, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Santa Rosa at No. 2 Branson, 7 p.m.
Division 6
No. 3 Grace Christian Academy vs. No. 6 CA School for the Deaf-Fremont, Laguna HS, 7 p.m.
No. 5 St. Vincent at No. 4 Laytonville, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Boys
Division 5
No. 1 Sonoma Academy vs. No. 4 Drew, 7 p.m.
Girls
Division 5
No. 4 Healdsburg vs. No. 9 Gateway, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Sonoma Academy at No. 6 San Domenico, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Girls
Open Division, fifth place
No. 6 Cardinal Newman at No. 5 Bishop O’Dowd, 7 p.m.