Difficult stretch for Newman begins with Rancho

<p>No one has to remind Cardinal Newman basketball coach Tom Bonfigli that the Cardinals have a key North Bay League game at Piner on Friday. But first, Newman must play at Rancho Cotate tonight, a venue that doesn’t rank among Bonfigli’s favorites in his 15 years as a coach in the NBL.</p><p>Bonfigli remembers a couple of losses at the cozy Rancho gym when he had some of his best teams. He also realizes the Cardinals’ perfect 14-0 record (2-0 in the NBL) probably won’t hold up during a difficult league season.</p><p>“Rancho’s much improved, deep and athletic and has won four of its last five,” says Bonfigli, who seemingly is familar with every player on every NBL roster.</p><p>Last year, three teams — Newman, Maria Carrillo and Piner — tied for the NBL championship. Bonfigli expects it to be just as close this year with the added caveat of it being one of the best year’s ever for parity in the league.</p><p>“Piner’s an exceptional team and is the class of the league. I consider Maria Carrillo in the same class with us and Piner. Ukiah and Rancho are much improved, Montgomery is very capable and Elsie Allen and Santa Rosa will compete.”</p><p>If Bonfigli sounds like a public relations director of the NBL, it’s just that he remembers the closeness of games last season, his first back at Newman after a 13-year absence. Newman wound up with the No. 1 seed in the league playoff tournament because of its 3-1 record against Piner and Carrillo. Newman lost three times to Montgomery last season, twice in league and then in the league tournament. Newman twice beat Piner by a point, once in overtime and split with Maria Carrillo.</p><p>“This is my 15th year in the NBL and I’ve seen this kind of parity and quality from top to bottom.”</p><p>The Newman basketball team started the season hot and hasn’t cooled. And that’s despite missing Randy Wright and Chris Reuter for more than half their games because of the Newman football team advancing to a state championship game.</p><p>Newman has won all three tournaments its played in — the McKinleyville tournament, Piner’s Sonoma County Classic and its own Rose City Tournament — and beat Acalanes, Heritage and Analy in those tourney championship games.</p><p>Bonfigli said his team is unselfish and a strong defensive squad.</p><p>His usual starters include sophomore point guard Bobby Sharp, senior shooting guard Tony Baldocchi, sophomore small forward Xavier McCall, senior power forward Danny Binz and junior center Ryan Cousins.</p><p>Bonfigli said Wright is playing more and could wind up starting. Junior guard Jamie Ford also sees a lot of playing time.</p><p>Baldocchi leads Newman in scoring at 18.9 points a game, while Binz averages 12.4 ppg and six assists. Cousins had 39 rebounds in the three games of the Classic.</p><p>“This team is pretty remarkable in how unselfish it is,” Bonfigli said. “It may be the best passing team I’ve ever coached here.”</p><p>Newman is also shooting 48 percent from the field and 79 percent from the foul line.</p><p>Bonfigli said he hasn’t changed his coaching style with this team. “We want to control the tempo and we run a halfcourt offense. We want to share the offense and run multiple plays to get good shots.”</p><p>Bonfigli gave a brief synopsis of each of his starters:</p><p>Tony Baldocchi — “Shows a lot of toughness and is not soft. Works harder than anyone and really elevated his game over the offseason. Is a triple threat on offense.”</p><p>Bobby Sharp — “Last year was the only freshman to ever play on Newman’s varsity. Great instincts. Excellent shooter. Understands the game and is the floor general.”</p><p>Xavier McCall — “A lock down guy on defense and just a basketball guy. A true student of the game.”</p><p>Danny Binz — “Great leader and practices harder than anyone on the team. Very coachable and always in the right spot. Never intimidated.”</p><p>Ryan Cousins — “Another extremely intelligent player. Cleans the boards for us. A very good passer and has improved a lot.”</p><p>The meat of Newman’s schedule is coming up, starting with Rancho tonight, at Piner Friday, at St. Mary’s of Berkeley on Saturday, home against Montgomery Jan. 22 and home against Ukiah Jan. 24.</p><p>Bonfigli, as big a fan of high school basketball you’ll find, said spectators better play on arriving early for most NBL contests this season. “There are some really good games coming up.”</p>