Sonoma Academy boys, girls basketball teams advance to section semifinals

Coyotes make history with deep playoff runs in Division 5

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Sonoma Academy boys and girls basketball teams both advanced to the North Coast Section semifinals with playoff wins on Friday night. The boys team, ranked No. 1 in Division 5, rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 9 Middletown 48-42 and reach the semifinals for the first time in program history. The girls team, seeded 10th, pulled off a big upset on the road against No. 2 Albany 51-31 to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year.

Why it matters

Sonoma Academy's deep playoff runs in both the boys and girls basketball tournaments are historic accomplishments for the small private school. The boys team is having its best season ever, while the girls team continues to punch above its weight as a lower-seeded underdog. These successes highlight the strength of the school's basketball programs and their ability to compete with larger public school powerhouses.

The details

In the boys game, Sonoma Academy trailed Middletown 33-28 after three quarters before rallying in the fourth. Sophomore Marcel Nsizoa Ndi scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the final period to lead the comeback. The Coyotes will now face No. 4 seed Drew, which beat them 64-61 earlier in the season, in the semifinals. On the girls side, Sonoma Academy led Albany 24-16 at halftime and gradually pulled away for the 51-31 upset victory. Summer Weiner scored a game-high 24 points with five 3-pointers, while Siena Jasper added 13 points and Layla Zekarias chipped in 11. The Coyotes will play at No. 6 seed San Domenico in the semifinals.

  • The boys game was played on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • The girls game was also played on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • The boys semifinal game against Drew is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7 p.m.
  • The girls semifinal game at San Domenico is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Sonoma Academy

A small private high school in Santa Rosa, California with strong boys and girls basketball programs.

Marcel Nsizoa Ndi

A sophomore on the Sonoma Academy boys basketball team who scored a game-high 24 points in the quarterfinal win over Middletown.

Summer Weiner

A player on the Sonoma Academy girls basketball team who scored a game-high 24 points with five 3-pointers in the upset win over Albany.

Drew

The No. 4 seed in the boys Division 5 playoffs, who Sonoma Academy will face in the semifinals after losing to them earlier in the regular season.

San Domenico

The No. 6 seed in the girls Division 5 playoffs, who Sonoma Academy will play in the semifinals.

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What’s next

The Sonoma Academy boys and girls basketball teams will both play their North Coast Section semifinal games on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The boys will host No. 4 seed Drew at 7 p.m., while the girls will travel to face No. 6 seed San Domenico, also at 7 p.m.

The takeaway

Sonoma Academy's deep playoff runs in both basketball tournaments showcase the strength and resilience of their sports programs, as the small private school continues to compete with and defeat larger public school powerhouses. These historic accomplishments will only further cement Sonoma Academy's reputation as a basketball force to be reckoned with in the North Coast Section.