Lady Dragons to Open Section Playoffs at Home Against Hercules

's girls are seeded eighth in the North Coast Section Division III basketball tournament and will open at home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against ninth-seeded Hercules.

The Dragons are 16-11, while Hercules enters postseason play with a 17-9 mark. The winner of the first-round game will advance to play at top-seeded Bishop O'Dowd (19-7) on Friday.

The defensive-minded Lady Dragons are led by Ellie Ceja, who averages 10.7 points per game. Annie Studdert is scoring 9.8 poins per game for a Sonoma Valley team that averages 38.6 points per contest.

"Our biggest issue all season has been scoring," said Sonoma Valley head coach Sil Coccia. "We’re holding teams consistently in the 30s or lower and always below their scoring averages. We’ve outrebounded all but two teams this season."

Ceja is the top rebound with 11.1 boards per game. Studdert is grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. Krysta Young is another key around the hoop with 5.8 rebounds per game.

No. 4 Moreau Catholic (19-7) has a first-round bye as do No. 2 seed Campolindo (21-5) and third seed Miramonte (21-5).

In other Division III girls first-round games on Tuesday, fifth-seeded Acalanes (17-8) hosts Drake (14-13), the No. 12 seed. Seventh-seeded Tamalpais (18-10) will host No. 10 Albany (14-11). Sixth-seeded Analy (21-6) hosts San Marin (14-13), the 11th seed.

The second round of games is set for Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the home of the highest seeded team. The semifinals are slated Wednesday, March 2. The Division IV championship game is on tap March 4 or March 5.

The Sonoma Academy girls team will open the Division V tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 23 against visiting Marin Academy. Sonoma Academy has won 11 of its last 12 games.

The Sonoma Academy boys team also advances to the Division V tournament, entering as the 16th and final team in the event.

Sonoma Academy enters the postseason with a 23-4 record, seeded fourth in Division V. Marin Academy is seeded 13th at 12-14.

The winner of that game will play the winner between fifth-seeded Hoopa Valley (15-9) and No. 12 seed Fremont Christian (20-4). If the top seeds win both games, Hoopa Valley will have to make a 309-mile, nearly six-hour drive to Sonoma.

Sonoma Academy's boys are seeded 16th with a 13-15 record. They open the playoffs at No. 1 seed St. Joseph of Notre Dame, in Alameda, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The top seed is 19-8 overall.