Jaguar News Services

On a night when the standing room only crowd generated enough heat to turn the Windsor High School gymnasium into a sweltering hotbox, the varsity boys' outside shooting went cold enough to let visiting Hayward High escape with a third round North Coast Section playoff victory over the Jaguars, bringing the campus hoops season to a bittersweet end.

Coach Steve Kramer's squad would have prized the opportunity to play for the North Coast section championship March 1 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, but now must consider what might have been for a team that by far was the class of the Sonoma County League this past season.  

The Jags seemed to come out a little tight on Wednesday night, and found out quickly that baskets would be hard earned.   The Hayward Farmers' athleticism was evident early, as Jaguar shots from inside the paint were challenged with impunity and offensive rebounds were nearly unheard of, making second shot tries for the Jaguars nonexistent this night.   For the first quarter and a half, Windsor introduced a stifling defense of its own and kept the score virtually tied.    However, Hayward caught fire late in the second quarter when, down 19-16, they went on an 11-0 run to close out the half ahead 27-19, a lead they would never relinquish.

The third quarter continued to be difficult for Windsor.   Hayward harassed outside shooters Jake Steiner and Luigi Valencia, who had difficulties finding their mark, and made the fast break virtually impossible for the Jags.   The Farmers fielded a team gifted with darting and leaping athletes blessed with quick hands.   While the Jags might have been a superior squad in terms of team play and a diversified offensive approach, the Farmers negated the Jags' strengths by closing down the passing lanes and making jump shots where Farmer players seemed like they hung suspended in air with little pressure from the Jaguar defense.   By the end of the third period the Hayward had increased its lead to 13 points.

Windsor heroically stuck around in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to within eight points on several occasions and once to within six after a Valencia three-pointer.   However, Windsor could just never put a run together to threaten the lead, as Hayward was able to match the Jags shot for shot.   For the last five minutes, Windsor was forced to foul Hayward players to slow the game and hope for opportunities.   When Valencia finally fouled out with a little under three minutes left, Windsor's offensive catalyst was gone and so was any real chance of winning this playoff.

With under a minute remaining and the score clearly out of reach for the Jaguars, coach Kramer pulled the rest of his starters, who were acknowledged by the partisan crowd for their valiant performances and their great season, and just like that, the Windsor varsity basketball odyssey of 2007/08 was done.

Amazing season, guys.   Once again, you made us proud.