Friday night was everything you could ever want a high school basketball game to be.  A storied crosstown rivalry.  An almost sell out crowd with two rowdy student bodies engaged in back and forth chanting throughout.  Double digit ties and lead changes with no team ever up by more than 5 points.  Two teams leaving it all on the floor – blood, sweat and tears in a legendary bout that went all the way down to the very last shot and the very last second.  Well…almost everything.

Tensions were high as the fans packed into the Campolindo gymnasium on another rainy winter evening, where a massive blue wave had already resulted in convincing wins by the Dons JV and Freshman teams.  There were a few empty seats way up in the corner rafters on one side but that was all.  Despite the almost flip flopped records of the two teams with Campo a heavy favorite, you knew right away this was a game that could possibly go down to the wire.  Maddox Malm set the tone early on defense with a vicious block thirty seconds in.  Three’s from Maddox and Cameron Hood put us up 12-8 with a few minutes to go. The Dons were off to a great start up 15-10 after one.

Rough start to the second as Campo paraded to the line for some free throws and got an easy one inside to tie it at 15.  The Cougars briefly took the lead before Jordan Brown joined the highlight reel racing through several defenders to hit a diving, over the shoulder layup off the glass as he slid across the floor.  Campo hit a corner three to put them up four but Gavin was back in and immediately answered with a three of his own.  Jordan converted on another heroic drive to the hoop and then found Preston Hilsabeck for a CLUTCH three to tie us at 28 going into the locker room at half.  It was at this point, I reminded myself to breathe.

The Dons came out amongst rumors Gavin might be out the rest of the night still feeling woozy after being injured on a drive in the first quarter.  Jordan found Liam Krackeler for a three to start the third and give us the lead back but the teams would trade buckets the entire quarter with no one being able to pull away.  Brady Quinn had a nice put back then found Liam for another two.  Cameron splashed another three, Preston hit a big floater and Maddox found Liam on a nice backdoor cut.  It was 42-41 Dons going into the fourth.

The fourth felt like an eternity.  The Dons threw the first punch with Maddox hitting Preston for a majestic three and a 45-41 lead.  Then Maddox rejected another shot but Campo cleaned it up and Maddox fell to the ground in the aftermath having to leave the game for several minutes.   Moments later a Campo player got loose for a three to give the Cougars the lead.  Brady answered with a nice drive but that same Campo player got free again for his second three in under twenty seconds as the Campo fans exploded.  Cameron, who was an absolute menace on defense all evening and a perfect 3/3 from the floor, used a bone crushing Joe Reidenbach screen to get free and finish with the left to tie things again at 49.  Campo called a timeout with five minutes left.

Both teams traded shots then Campo scored on a tough drive off the glass to put the Cougars up 51-49 with 3:40 to go.  After a couple empty possessions and defensive stops, Gavin, back from the dead, scored on a beautiful lefty drive and was fouled, tying the game at 51!  His free throw rattled in and out and Campo secured the rebound. They drove again and were turned away by Maddox who had seven  blocks on the night!  The Dons turned it over on the next possession then Gavin was called for a blocking foul sending Campo to the line for two.   Campo missed the first but converted the second for the 52-51 lead with 1:36 to go.

After a Dons turnover, another Maddox block led to a loose ball scrum that was recovered by Campo, injuring Cameron in the process.  Both teams tightened up under the pressure of the moment with each turning the ball over twice in a minute.  Campo called timeout with the ball, 16 seconds left and only 10 on the shot clock.  A Campo player took a deep three that air balled as the shot clock expired.  Dons called their final timeout with 6.1 left.  Campo had a foul to give and used it, taking a couple seconds off the clock and setting up the final play – a Dons sideline inbounds in front of their bench with 3.8 left.  Maddox raced up from the block to receive the pass from Jordan.  With a Campo player in hot pursuit, Maddox took a dribble to try to create separation and launched a step back three from about thirty feet.  It was on line but just short as it tickled the twine and went out of bounds with 0.3 left.  Campo inbounded and that was that, a 52-51 final as the Campo student body stormed the floor.  An instant classic and a brutal pill to swallow for this young Dons team.

So proud of this team.  The wins haven’t been there but they are coming.  We know we can beat every single team we have played this year as we have just come up short against some of the best competition we’ve faced.  Monday is another chance to get back in the win column and start building more momentum going into the playoffs where anything can happen.  Keep fighting like Warriors, like you did in this one, and your time will come!

We held our own in every statistical category except maybe one.  The Dons outshot the Cougars going 37% from the field, 10/28 on 2FG (44%), 7/18 on 3FG (36%) and a wonderful season high 10/13 from the line (77%).  Campo was only 32% from the field, 15/45 on 2FG (33%), 3/11 on 3FG (27%), and 13/19 (68%) from the line (69%).  Rebounds were 34-33 Dons.  The big difference was turnovers as we had 18 to their 11 and Campo had 8 points off turnovers to our 0.  We had 7 turnovers in the fourth alone.

So many wonderful performances in this one.  Cameron and Preston both with their best games of the year on the biggest stage and very identical stat lines.  Preston had 9 points on 3/4 shooting, 2 three’s, 4 rebounds, 1 assists and a +3 rating in 21 minutes.  Cameron had 9 points on 3/3 shooting, 2 three’s, 3 rebounds and +3 rating in 21 minutes with harassing defense on Campo ball handlers all evening.  Liam had 9 points on 4/6 shooting, 7 rebounds and 3 steals in 23 minutes.  Brady had 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in 20 minutes.  Maddox had a stunning season high 7 blocks, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 22 minutes.

Next up for the Dons a progressively harder, three game homestand this week.  Monday against Berean Christian (3-11, 0-6 in League), Miramonte (13-7, 3-3 in League) on Wednesday, and Ygnacio Valley (16-5, 7-0 in League) on Friday.  Come on out and show your love to this exciting young team this week as they make their final push to the Playoffs!