Let’s start with the good news – the DONS big 21-6, 11-1 turnaround season earned them a 7 seed in the NCS D1 Bracket (reminder we are actually a D3 school which is based on enrollment). We will face Archie Williams (18-8, 6-4), the 10 seed, tonight at 7PM. Winner will advance to play the winner of #2 Redwood and #15 Montgomery on Friday night. If the DONS can win the next two games, they would get two chances at qualifying for State which could be accomplished by either winning the third game and making it to the Finals or losing the third game but winning the subsequent Third Place game. Basically, the top three finishers advance to State.
The DONS were unable to advance past a full-strength Clayton Valley team Friday night at home in the DAL Semifinals in a 66-60 game. The DONS beat the Ugly Eagles 40-35 earlier in the season in Clayton is a low scoring, grinder of a game but CV was without Elijah Perryman #1 and Vince Ellis #3, both now back in the mix. Perryman is the only current DAL player that has been signed to a full ride D1 scholarship (Utah State) and also reportedly will receive a very significant amount of NIL money. He was also the league MVP last year as a Junior.
The first quarter and a half of this game was really exciting! Gentry #14 and Ryder traded multiple buckets then Gavin scored on a spin move inside. Brady fired a two-handed bounce chest pass from behind halfcourt through the outstretched arms of Perryman to find Ian for two. Gavin found Ian who contorted his body in midair around the defender to lay it in for two more, 10-5 DONS! It was back and forth action as Clayton kept scoring too with Perryman scoring twice and assisting another bucket plus Ellis hitting a three. DONS added some from deep too with Brady finding Maddox for a net-snapping corner three and Maddox hitting Chase for another corner three. 16 ALL after one.
Ellis nailed his second three to start the second then DONS went on an 8-0 run! Chase found Maddox inside who hit a tough shot over Gentry then Maddox dished it to Chase on the next possession for his second three. Gavin added one from deep and it was 24-19 DONS with 6:25 left. Consecutive DONS turnovers led to an easy fastbreak bucket for the Eagles and an and-1 by Perryman that also resulted in Maddox’s second foul forcing him to leave the game with a little over 5 minutes still to go. DONS would go scoreless the rest of the quarter and Perryman and Ellis would each add another bucket. 29-24 Clayton at the break.
The DONS were only able to manage two shot attempts on their first 6 possessions of the third. Perryman picked up three steals in that stretch as the Eagles completed a 19-0 run for a 38-24 lead at one point as the DONS were scoreless for over 9 and a half minutes. Gavin hit a pair of free throws to finally stop the run, then Ian scored on a nice drive high off the glass and Maddox swished another deep three right in front of the DONS bench. But Clayton scored inside on three consecutive possessions and maintained their lead. Ian added two more on a strong board and putback off a missed three and Joe beat the buzzer with a putback of his own to cut the lead to 10, 47-37 going into the fourth.
This well coached Clayton team started taking the air out of the ball and shortening the game. The DONS were in a zone and Perryman threw a pass right through the defense to Simpson underneath for an easy two. Gavin found Joe for a three but Simpson answered with a three of his own. Halfway through the quarter, the DONS made one last push as Gavin beat his man with a behind the back dribble and finger roll. But the DONS were still having trouble getting the stops they needed to make up any ground. Perryman dribbled through the DONS zone and converted a pretty up and under move over the outstretched arm of Maddox, 56-44 Clayton with 2:45 left. Joe found Gavin for a three but Perryman answered again, going coast to coast through the zone and scoring two more. Ian hit Maddox for a corner three SPLASH as the lead was single digits 58-50 and DONS called time with 1:35 left.
The DONS had to resort to fouling the Eagles to try to extend the game. Two free throws later, Gavin found Maddox in the opposite corner for another three to cut the lead to 60-53. Gavin added another three and a tough lefty bank shot in the lane but Clayton iced the game at the line going 8 for 14 over the final minute and a half. DONS came up short 66-60.
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The DONS shot 46% (21/46) from the field, 39% (10/26) from deep and 8/9 (89%) from the line. Clayton was 46% (22/48) from the field, 28% (5/18) from deep, and 61% (17/28) from the line. The big story in this one was turnovers as the DONS committed 18 to the Eagles 8. Points off turnovers were 24-11 Clayton, a 13-point advantage. DONS with a slight rebounding advantage 26-22.
BALL MOVEMENT WATCH
Assists on FGs Made – 15 assists on 21 field goals (71%) – 65% considered good, >75% is ideal
Assist to Turnovers – 18 turnovers (0.83) – 1.00 considered good, >1.50 is ideal
Gavin led the way with 21 points, 6/6 FT’s, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in another wire-to-wire outing. Maddox had 14 points, 4/8 from deep with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Ian had 8 points on a perfect 4/4 FG’s with 3 rebounds. Chase had 6 points on 2/2 3FG with 2 assists. Joe added 5 points and 5 boards.
For Clayton, Perryman finished with 27 points on 918 shooting with 9 steals, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Ellis added 10 points and Simpson 9. The Ugly Eagles went on to beat Las Lomas 67-49 in Saturday’s Final hosted at Chris Huber Gymnasium in Lafayette for another DAL Tournament Championship. They earned a 4 seed in D1 and will host 13 seed Albany.
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The DONS and Archie Williams both have 1-2 records against common opponents with Acalanes beating Marin Catholic but losing to Campolindo and Serra. The Peregrine Falcons beat Campolindo 66-63 in a Holiday Tournament but lost to Serra and Marin Catholic. The Falcons are led by #3, Junior Guard Meezy Butler. Their last game was a a 20 point loss to eventual MCAL Champion Redwood in the Semifinals. The DONS last NCS appearance was as a 9 seed in 2022-2023, a 70-52 loss to Benicia.
Calling all DONS Fans tonight – come see this exciting team for what could be the last home game of this season!
GoFan ticket link for tonight: https://gofan.co/event/3246693?schoolId=CA22846
ACA Livestream link with DONS Play-By-Play Team here!
DONS DUNK-O-METER: 25 (NC) Click to see some of the BEST DUNKS of the YEAR!
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Game Photos Courtesy: Nicole Malm
