The Frosh Boys looked to avenge one of their most frustrating losses of the season against Miramonte, a 60-31 loss in Moraga. Nico Ortman set the tone early diving on the ground on the very first possession to force a turnover. Sam Bishop was on fire all night and got us up early with two back-to-back threes. Miramonte answered with an 11-0 run to take a 14-6 lead before Bishop hit his third three of the quarter. The Dons were locked in defensively and clawed back in the game behind a vicious block from Maddox Malm and Braedon Christie steal. Malm secured an offensive rebound and buried a three to get the Dons back within two, 14-12. But the Mats added a couple more to take an 18-12 lead at the end of the first.
Avyn Morales hit a three to open the second quarter scoring and get us to within 18-15 but Miramonte scored the next eight points. Drew McKenzie was active and physical down low all night – almost like he was playing on a smaller hoop than everyone else. He made a nice block and added the and-one finish on the other end to bring the Don’s within 23-18 at one point. Miramonte continued to shoot very well from deep in the first half and generated several easy layups off their half-court sets, going into the half with a 33-19 lead.
If you been following all year you know these Dons don’t give up and rarely disappoint in the second half. McKenzie set the tone early with another block and Bishop found Malm underneath for a nice alley-oop finish off the glass. The Dons started to get more aggressive on D as Bishop had a nice steal and finish on the other end for two. Morales started to assert himself with a nice follow-up bucket, the and-one finish off a an opportunity generated by Cole Gwaltney quickly pushing the ball up the floor, and a very impressive spin cycle special that brought the Dons to within seven 38-31. Christie added a follow-up to round out the scoring in the third and we were down just five headed into the fourth.
Christie added two more free throws early in the fourth but Miramonte was able to grow their lead to nine at one point. That’s when the Dons made a run for the ages. Morales stroked a three to cut it to six. Ortman and Christie came up with huge steals, both leading to Bishop threes that tied us at 44 with about two minutes left as the Dons faithful erupted in the stands. After Miramonte went up one on a free throw, McKenzie scored down low to give the Dons their first lead since 6-3 early in the first quarter. Bishop added a corner three of an inbounds play to put the Dons up 4 at 49-45. However, Miramonte quickly answered with the easy layup to cut the lead to two. Matadors were in full desperation mode and their frenetic defense caused problems for the Dons at the end. Miramonte got the ball back and tied the score at 49 on a backdoor cut from #11 who was a problem for us all night. With no timeouts left, the Dons inbounded the ball with about 10 seconds ago and Morales lost control of it as he crossed over half-court. As multiple players tried to grab the ball in the scrum it ended up headed towards the me Miramonte basket. As the clock approached zero, #20 picked up the ball with Morales in pursuit and threw up a desperation heave from the baseline that hit the side of the backboard as it look like we were headed to an overtime finish.
What was one of the most exciting games of the year quickly turned into a nightmare as there was a shooting foul on Morales as time expired giving the Matadors two free throws. Coach Thomas argued that there was no time left on the clock but to no avail. #20 headed to the line all by himself with the weight of the world on his shoulders and he missed the first one off the back of the rim. With the Dons fans screaming and making all kinds of noise from the bleachers, #20 stepped to the line and calmly buried the second free throw giving the Matadors the 50-49 win.
Acalanes was led by 20 from Bishop who had six threes. Morales added nine, Christie had six, and Malm and McKenzie both had five. For Miramonte #11 finished with 21 including 10 in the first quarter and #13 had eight. The Don’s outshot the Matadors from deep by a count of 9-5.
The Dons fall to 6-14 on the season and 2-8 in league play. There are two more games remaining, both at home at 4pm, with the first coming Wednesday, February 9th against College Park and Friday, February 11th against Clayton Valley Charter. Go Dons!!!