By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

The Napa Valley College women's basketball team went into Wednesday's nonconference game at home against Reedley College with just six players.

A 3-pointer by Jordyn Allen to start the fourth quarter pulled Napa Valley to within 12 points, but the Storm couldn't get any closer as they fell, 82-49.

Napa Valley was missing Brooklyn Giles, a returning sophomore guard, who suffered a sprained ankle in a game against College of the Redwoods-Eureka on Saturday, Nov. 4.

The Storm is also missing Rose Jamison, a returning sophomore guard. Jamison had surgery on her left knee on Aug. 16.

In addition, NVC did not have Bella Merritt, who was out with the flu.

"It's hard playing games with six," said Paul DeBolt, the Storm's head coach. "We're just banged up. It's that time of the season. No excuses. Just didn't play well today."

It's the first loss of the season for Napa Valley (2-1 overall).

Aaliyah Gaitan scored 13 points for the Storm. Allen and Daralonie Sykes each scored 12 points. Hadieh Gallegos had nine points.

"Lonie is giving it her all. She's doing everything that we're asking her to do. She's gutting it out," said DeBolt.

Giles, a starter, injured her ankle in the first quarter against Redwoods. Giles should be back in a week and a half to two weeks, said DeBolt.

Giles had a spectacular game in the season opener, scoring 30 points and getting 28 rebounds, as the host Storm beat Sacramento City College, 70-45. She also had seven assists and five steals.

Giles had 10 points, four rebounds and three steals in NVC's 67-61 win over Redwoods.

Jamison, a returning starter, is doing better, as she has been cleared to run, said DeBolt.

"So, probably four weeks away with her," said DeBolt.

Merritt should be back with the team next week, said DeBolt.

"We're starting to get our players back," said DeBolt.

"We just have to get better. You stick with it. It's a long season. You never know what you can do in a season. We're still optimistic we'll have a good year."

Reedley College (3-1 overall), which is in the Central Valley Conference, was ahead 26-14 in the first quarter, 42-29 at halftime, and 59-44 at the end of the third quarter.

The Storm had five 3-pointers and was 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Leyocha Marigney scored 18 points to lead Reedley.

Makayla McGrath scored 14 points, Alexis Holland and Erynn Padhal each had 11 points, Tianna Sutherland had 10 points, and Karzima Truong had nine points.

Reedley had four 3-pointers and was 6-of-18 at the free-throw line. "It's a long season, and freshmen will get better. They're still learning the level and learning what's expected of them. Just do the best we can," said DeBolt.

NVC goes to the Ventura Tournament, Nov. 16-18.

The Storm faces Ventura College on Nov. 16. They meet Antelope Valley College on Nov. 17 and they meet West Hills College on Nov. 18.

CCCWBCA polls

Napa Valley is among seven teams that "also received votes" in the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association North Region Preseason Poll, announced by the California Community College Athletic Association, on Nov. 6, in a report, at www.cccaasports.org.

Bay Valley Conference teams listed in the North are No. 7 Laney-Oakland and No. 9 Solano-Fairfield.

Northern California teams in the CCCWBCA State Top 25, announced on Nov. 7, are No. 2 Butte-Oroville, No. 5 San Joaquin Delta-Stockton, No. 7 Sierra-Rocklin, No. 8 Santa Rosa, No. 9 City College of San Francisco, No. 10 Folsom Lake, No. 11 Laney-Oakland, No. 20 Solano-Fairfield, No. 23 San Jose City and Skyline-San Bruno, No. 25 College of San Mateo.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.