The rivalry was real in the Don’s gym on Thursday evening. The crowd was as big as allowed by both teams’ fan base. Before you could blink Campo was up 14-4. Jack Bayless carried the team in the opening minutes getting fouled and hitting free throws and driving through the lane. With 4 minutes left in the quarter Eli Brent subbed in and went to work. He hit Justin Zegarowski for a three pointer bringing the score 14-9. Eli then grabbed a defensive rebound that set up the offense and created a break away full court baseball pass to Eli who beat all the Campo defenders down the floor for an easy left handed layup. Coco Gannon got a steal and drove the length of the floor for two more points and with the clock running down in the first quarter Jack Bayless drove from the top of the key for a soaring left handed layup. The Dons took the lead at the end of one, 15-14 with the defensive energy showing up big time!
After the initial quarter things became a struggle again for the Dons. Five points were scored in the second quarter and the defensive energy and rotations they found at the end of the first quarter were hard to come by. Bayless did his best to keep things competitive on the offensive end. Jack found his way to the hoop on a driving layup for two points. Later he spun to avoid the defender on another drive, was fouled and landed on his hip getting up in obvious discomfort. He was granted free throws making one of two. Nathan Bennett hit Dodge with a nice pass while Dodge rolled to the bucket for a clean basket. Bennett Dodge also had a strong blocked shot that gained the Dons an extra possession. Dons were down 28-20 at the half.
The third quarter and fourth quarters got many of the Dons players involved. The Cougars kept the pedal down on offense and Acalanes couldn’t keep up, especially with Bayless hurting from the fall he took in the first half. Landon Santos, Eli Brent ,Coco Gannon, Zubin Acuna and Dominic Sarica all shot free throws after taking the ball into the teeth of the Campo defense. Bayless hit a three pointer, Eli Brent rode a Cougar out of bounds who was driving the baseline for a turnover and Dons possession. Coco Gannon rushed through the lane in traffic spinning a left handed layup off the glass for a refreshing two point bucket. Ethan Torres had the rhythm and seemed to be able to crack the Cougars’ defense with two nice driving buckets in the lane with one being a three point play with a made free throw.
The Dons take this one on the chin with a 60-36 loss.
High Scorers were Jack Bayles (14), Ethan Torres (5), Coco Gannon (5) and Justin Zegarowski (3). Dodge, Brent, Sarica, Acuna all contributed 2 points apiece. Next game is Wednesday, May 26th at home vs Miramonte.