Varsity Boys Hoops: When Midnight Strikes

The glass slipper finally cracked.

After two magical nights in the Chris Huber Memorial Tournament, the Cinderella run for the Acalanes Dons came to an end Saturday afternoon in the championship game, as they ran into a Granada Matadors team that was bigger, stronger, meaner — and, frankly, really good.

Granada hails from Livermore, where kids grow up different. Out there, they raise them big and physical, and judging by Saturday’s lineup, they might even start them in kindergarten when they’re nine. This was a roster built like a farming operation — wide shoulders, strong hands, and zero interest in finesse basketball.

And they were coached.
And they could shoot it.
And they were relentless.

Too Big, Too Strong, Too Many Answers

From the opening tip, it was clear this was going to be a different kind of challenge. Granada played with force on every cut, every rebound, every loose ball. Their guards attacked like linebackers, their wings defended like safeties, and their bigs punished mistakes.

Leading the charge was Granada’s #23, a broad-shouldered, farmer-built force we’ll call “Big Country.” He was simply too much — inside and out. Big Country stepped out and knocked down three after three, finishing with a game-high 29 points, and every one of them felt heavier than the last.

Granada’s supporting cast didn’t help matters.

#24 was another load inside
#4 looked like he should’ve been playing tight end
Their baby-faced freshman point guard (#2) — the coach’s son — calmly torched pressure like a seasoned vet
And yes, #10 may or may not have had a perm — joining a long and respected lineage of great athletes with questionable hair choices

The Big Country Assignment

One of the most difficult jobs of the afternoon belonged to Preston Hilsabeck and Gavin Dodge, who split time guarding Big Country from the opening minutes on. It was an unenviable task — wrestling with a man who had about 40 pounds, several inches, and an entire county fair’s worth of farm strength on them.

As expected, the whistles came early. Preston found himself in foul trouble simply for standing his ground, absorbing contact, and trying to keep Granada’s monster from setting up shop on the block, while Gavin battled him on switches and perimeter matchups, using strength, positioning, and effort to make every touch difficult.

Neither matchup was easy. Both required toughness, discipline, and sacrifice. And while Big Country ultimately had his way, the willingness of both Preston and Gavin to take on that responsibility mattered — even if the box score doesn’t fully capture it.

The Dons Fight — But the Gap Grows

To Acalanes’ credit, they didn’t fold early. Gavin Dodge came out aggressive, drilling a deep three from NBA range and consistently making the right read. Cameron Hood battled through contact and hit timely shots, including threes off ball movement that kept hope alive.

A.J. Hastings was also aggressive early and throughout the game, knocking down a first-quarter three and attacking the rim with confidence. He finished the afternoon with 11 hard-earned points, repeatedly challenging Granada’s size and refusing to shy away from contact.

Julian Hood didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he made his presence felt with tough defense, an important late offensive rebound, and the kind of physical effort that doesn’t always show up in the box score but absolutely matters against a team like Granada.

At halftime, Granada led just 32–27, and the Dons were very much still in it.

But the second half told a harder truth.

Granada opened the third quarter with a surge — offensive rebounds, kick-out threes, and physical finishes at the rim. When Big Country buried another deep three and a freshman hit one at the buzzer, the lead ballooned, and the feeling in Chris Huber Gym shifted.

That’s when midnight struck.

Despite strong moments — a Gavin kick-out to Cam for three, a tough Cam and-one, and continued effort on both ends — Granada simply had too many answers. Their size wore down the Dons, their shooting stretched the floor, and their pressure never relented.

Final: Granada 74, Acalanes 53

Gavin Dodge finished with 18 points, battling through constant attention, physical defense, and bodies flying at him all afternoon — while also taking on the difficult task of guarding Big Country. Cameron Hood added 17 points, once again showing poise, shot-making, and toughness against a defense determined to make life difficult. A.J. Hastings chipped in 11 points, attacking gaps and playing fearlessly against a much larger lineup.

While the ending wasn’t storybook, the tournament itself absolutely was.

Both Gavin Dodge and Cameron Hood were named to the Chris Huber Memorial Tournament All-Tournament Team, a well-earned honor after three nights of high-level basketball, leadership, and grit.

Bench Effort, Growth, and Silver Linings

There were plenty of positives to take away:

Landon Deily, Shea Stahl, Bryce Mansour, and Jon MacLeod gave strong defensive efforts off the bench, battling size mismatches and physical play without backing down.
Aakash Agarwal made a real case for more minutes, scoring four points, grabbing a rebound, and adding an assist in limited run — all while looking composed.
Justice Hembrador showed he can handle the ball against serious pressure, a huge step forward.
Sam Phillips and Evan Palmer displayed poise and toughness late, standing their ground against a very physical Granada squad.

Those minutes mattered.

Perspective Matters

Yes, the ending hurt.
Yes, Granada was too much on this day.

But this was still a strong tournament for the Dons — one that showcased resilience, growth, depth, and belief. Two big wins. A championship appearance. All-Tournament honors. And a reminder that this group is learning how to compete against anyone, anywhere.

Sometimes the slipper fits.
Sometimes the clock wins.

But the story isn’t over.

A Final Note from the Committee

Since publication of these tournament recaps, the author has received numerous pleas from parents insisting they are clearly good-looking enough to be considered for the Acalanes Parent Mount Rushmore. These efforts have included noticeably tighter-fitting clothing, upgraded makeup routines (including, impressively, on a couple of Dons dads), and very intentional seating designed to ensure the committee had a clear view of their “good side.”

Let this be stated clearly and for the record:

Be better.
The committee will not be rushed.

What’s Next

The Dons now turn the page from tournament play to league action, opening Diablo Athletic League play with their first league game of the season on Friday night at Benicia, tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

They’ll then return home to Chris Huber Gym on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. for a non-league matchup against Archie Williams, a strong test before the heart of the DAL schedule ramps up.

New chapter.
Same belief.

Go Dons.