Heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking. Led by a strong scoring night from Tyler Cosso and balanced contributions from Tade O’Keeffe and Eli La Rotonda, Acalanes showed grit and toughness versus a very physical Benicia squad, coming up just short in a 55–54 loss after Benicia hit a three with less than four seconds left in the game.

The game was tight throughout. Down by two at halftime and three going into the fourth quarter, the Dons took the lead late in the fourth and outscored the home team 17–14 in the frame. The fourth-quarter push proved not enough as a gut-punch three from Benicia in the final seconds sealed their victory.

Cosso turned in an outstanding performance, leading all scorers with 21 points while knocking down seven three-pointers. He also contributed six rebounds, along with a steal and a block.

O’Keeffe added 12 points on efficient shooting and played a key role as a facilitator, finishing with four assists and a steal. La Rotonda also scored 12 points, converting a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, and added three assists and three steals, helping anchor the Dons during critical stretches.

Acalanes moved the ball well, finishing with 14 assists, and competed defensively with eight steals and three blocks. On the boards, the Dons collected 23 rebounds, led by Zenai Kaplanes-Jones with seven rebounds, along with four points and three assists.

The Dons will look to take out their frustrations from Finals and the Benicia game on Archie Williams at home on Saturday the 20th, before taking a much-deserved holiday break until their after-Christmas tournament at Dougherty Valley.