The varsity boys basketball team won game one of the Cal high tournament, beating Alhambra 61-50. The game was notable for its evenly balanced scoring from seven players, great defense, and a lot of ball movement.

The first quarter, Alhambra was up 8-7, then the Dons went on a 13-0 run. Jackson Aris-Dumas, Aidan Bodner, and Jake Davis jointly scored four consecutive baskets, two of them following steals by Aidan. John Kalil was a powerful presence under the basket. He kicked out the ball to Murphy Baker, who hit a 3-pointer. Then Aidan’s drive to the basket made it 20-8. From that point forward the Dons maintained a strong lead.

John opened the second quarter with three rebounds. Graham Smith grabbed a rebound and scored the first basket of the quarter. Jake rebounded and passed to Scott Ruegg, who passed to Theo Stoll, who knocked down a 3-pointer. The rest of the quarter saw the Dons move the ball a lot. Then it was deja vu of Tuesday night, Jackson nailing a 3-pointer just before halftime.

The third-quarter showcased the Dons’ rebounding, fast breaks, and scoring. Through team effort, the Dons went on a 14-4 run. Unselfish passing was on full display, as well as strong shooting, including 3’s by Scott, Graham, and Murphy. The Dons outscored Alhambra 22-15 in third quarter. The fourth quarter brought more great defense including blocks and steals, with baskets by Jackson, Scott, and Aidan. High scorers were Aidan, Jake, and Jackson.

The Dons return to San Ramon Saturday Dec. 14 to play Cal High in the championship game at 5:30.