I’m really not sure what a proper recovery period is after Friday night.  Today’s 10am Boosters email blast deadline will have to do but this one will certainly sting for much longer.

While the game itself ended up being a disappointment in the end for the DONS and their rabid fans, in the aftermath there was much to unpack and celebrate from an insanely wild, absolutely electric, blow the top off Huber Gym night that it was.

I arrived about 45 minutes prior to tip and was shocked to see how many people were already in their seats.  There was media and cameras everywhere.  The place was  buzzing like a Tesla coil.  The roar was deafening, and I struggled to even hear the starting lineups.  The student body sang the Star Spangled Banner with passion and exuberance as the hair on the back of everyone’s neck was standing up before we even tipped.  Bodies were packed into the bleachers, overflowing into the aisleways and probably going as many as five deep on the baseline.  I tried to inquire about the last time Huber Gym was sold out and discovered that the 2007 Boys team had crowds so big they had to relocate games to St. Mary’s College so I will assume it has been almost 18 years!

The Cougars rolled out Ren, Gavin Rendle, Luke, Peyton and a surprise last minute starter in Phin while the DONS stuck with their main lineup of Brady, Ian, Gavin and the Malm Brothers.  Ren scored the first bucket of the game on an acrobatic finish at the glass.  Maddox tied it up on the next possession with a nice floater in the lane.  Ian found Ryder in the corner for three for the 5-2 lead.  Then Phin went coast to coast as Ryder’s arm got hung up in the hoop on at the block attempt.  Ren followed with a jab step three, and you could feel there wasn’t going to be anything easy about this one, Campo came to play.  Brady found Ian underneath for two to knot it up at 7.  Rendle answered with a baseline J for Campo then Maddox found brother Ryder for his second three of the quarter.  The place was rocking!  Rendle hit a deep three then Chase scored on a nice drive.  It was 12 all after one.  MAMMA MIA it looked like we had an instant classic on our hands! 

DONS took the lead again to start the second as Ian found Chase for a corner three!  Rex scored next for Campo on a putback off an awkward airball by Luke.  The Cougars took the lead back 18-17 when Luke snuck underneath the press defense for two more.  That was pretty much most of the excitement for the night.  The Cougars dominated the offensive glass getting layup after layup as the Dons struggled to make shots and committed a bevy of turnovers over the next five plus minutes.  Campo up 32-21 at the break and you could feel the game starting to slip away.  DONS had to make some changes in the second half.

Campo picked up right where they left off scoring easy buckets inside to open the third.  Ian scored inside and Ryder cashed two free throws to cut the lead to single digits at 9.  Campo responded with two and then Maddox found Ryder for a floater.  There was a lid on the buckets for the next few minutes until Rendle had a nice finish inside and Maddox hit a clutch, deep step back three with Rendle in his face as time expired.  42-30 Campo.

Campo would go on a 10-2 run in the first four minutes of the fourth to ice the game.  Ryder would add his third three of the evening but Campo continued to have their way with Rendle putting the punctuation mark on the W with a deep three to put them up 22 with 2:30 left.  Reality was setting in for this talented DONS team, tonight was not their night at all.  Phin, who had 7 steals on the night, slammed the ball high into the air as time expired and the final was 57-37.

Both student sections poured on the floor but administrators and parents were able to keep control of the mobs ensuring no one got physically injured.  Other than the fact that the Cougars dominated two thirds of the game it was a special night for high school sports in Lamorinda.  This one was almost everything a rivalry game should be and hopefully the DONS will get another crack in the League Playoffs or NCS. 

Click here for HUDL Game Highlights!

BALL MOVEMENT WATCH

Assists on FGs Made – 8 assists on 12 field goals (75%) – 65% considered good, >75% is ideal

Assist to Turnovers – 16 turnovers (0.50) – 1.00 considered good, >1.50 is ideal

The DONS shot 28% (12/43) from the field, 29% (5/17) from three and 67% (8/12) from the line.  The Cougars shot 52% from the field, 23% (3/13) from three and  75% (6/8) from the line.  The much taller DONS squad was unable to exploit their height advantage as both teams tied at 27 rebounds, a win for Campo.  The Cougars shot 17/25 (68%) on layups compared to the DONS 3/14 (21%) as they exploited the DONS defense all night.  DONS also committed more turnovers 16-9.

Ryder led the way with 13 points on 2/4 shooting from deep plus 5 rebounds.  Ian had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.  Maddox had 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.  Chase had 5 points.  Gavin had a rough shooting night but finished with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

The good news is the DONS (15-5, 5-1) are still essentially in a tie for first place with Las Lomas 6-1 (and own head to head tiebreaker) and Clayton Valley at 4-1.  Campo is tied for fourth at 5-2 along with Northgate and College Park who is on a sixth game winning streak.  Clayton faces Campo tonight in Moraga then has the DONS in Clayton on Thursday night so big games this week to get some clarity at the top of the DAL as the league approaches the final two weeks of the season.  Campo then travels to Benicia (11-10, 4-3) on Thursday and DONS will host Benicia on Saturday 2/1.  Regular season winner by winning percentage will get automatic NCS berth and the winner of the 6 team League Playoffs will get the second automatic berth.

Tonight the DONS travel to Mt. Diablo (1-19, 0-6) who so far have lost to Campo by 78, Las Lomas by 56, College Park by 48, and Benicia by 47.  Reports of seismic activity in the area tonight as the DONS DUNK-O-METER looks ready for action.  Tipoff is at 7PM tonight.

DONS DUNK-O-METER: 21 (NC)  Click to see some of the BEST DUNKS of the YEAR!

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Photos Courtesy: Nicole Malm