Why are they called the Hornets?
The answer lies in Alameda’s rich naval history, most notably the USS Hornet, the famed aircraft carrier now permanently docked as a museum in Alameda. The Hornet played a critical role in World War II and beyond, becoming a symbol of resilience, endurance, and resolve—traits the Alameda High Hornets clearly take pride in.
That history struck especially close to home on Saturday afternoon. Gavin Dodge’s great-grandfather, Fred Dodge, served aboard the USS Hornet in 1946, and Gavin honored that legacy the best way a shooter knows how: by lighting up the scoreboard.
Coming off a gut-punch loss to Ygnacio Valley—when a 19-point lead slipped away—the Dons faced a real test. The opponent was stronger. The margin for error was thinner. The response needed to be real.
It was.
Gavin Ignites the Building
Alameda came out firing and briefly looked unconscious from the field, building an early advantage as the Dons searched for footing. Gavin Dodge made sure they didn’t drift too far.
Gavin poured in 17 first-half points, repeatedly knocking down deep threes and setting the offensive tone. He finished the game with 19 points on 6-for-14 shooting, including an outstanding 5-for-10 from three-point range, while adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
After trailing by as many as 14, Acalanes stormed back late in the second quarter, closing the half down just 39–34—a hard-earned comeback that kept belief alive.
The Masked Scorer
Much of that belief was fueled by A.J. Hastings, who suited up wearing a protective mask after absorbing plenty of punishment in the Ygnacio Valley game.
Masked up and fearless, A.J. turned into the “Masked Scorer”—no judges’ panel required. Channeling serious Rip Hamilton energy, he rebounded in traffic, initiated offense, and attacked the rim with confidence. Proof that a face mask doesn’t slow down a player who lives for contact, A.J. delivered a complete performance: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and countless gritty plays that don’t always show up in the box score.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the game hanging in the balance, A.J. calmly stepped to the free-throw line and delivered an unmistakable ONIONS moment (for those unfamiliar, Google “Bill Raftery Onions” and enjoy).
A brief housekeeping note: there was also a short in-game yelling exchange between A.J. and the author of the VBBR. Only one of the two was in the right—and it was not the author. Apologies issued, lesson learned, moving on.
Second-Half Adjustment, New Opportunities
Alameda made a concerted effort to neutralize Gavin after halftime, throwing extra defenders his way. That adjustment opened the door for Cam Hood, who stepped confidently through it.
Cam attacked closeouts, knocked down timely threes, and consistently pressured the rim. He finished with 12 points, 4 assists, and several crucial possessions where he forced Alameda to foul rather than recover.
Preston Stays the Course
The first half was unkind to Preston Hilsabeck, as several strong looks rolled out. But basketball has a long memory.
In the second half, Preston was dominant—scoring inside, cleaning the glass, and imposing his will physically. He finished with 13 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting, added 10 rebounds, and delivered back-to-back buckets late in the fourth quarter that steadied the Dons when momentum wavered.
The basketball gods eventually evened the score.
Closing Time
The final minutes were tense. Alameda kept coming. Missed free throws briefly cracked the door open. Their bench was animated. Their coach was… deeply invested.
But Acalanes closed.
Julian Hood knocked down key late free throws. Bryce Mansour was extremely efficient, making both of his field-goal attempts and grabbing a rebound in just 7 minutes, providing exactly the kind of productive minutes every coach hopes for. Jon Macleod helped with spacing and timely decision-making.
And yes—it should be noted that the VBBR briefly stepped beyond the written word. The author—who nobody wants to sit next to, including his own mother, due to relentless and poorly modulated yelling—may have contributed tangible value. Without a particularly loud and persistent appeal for a five-second call against Alameda late in the game, it’s entirely possible it never gets whistled.
VBBR to the rescue—apparently not just with wordsmanship.
Final score: Acalanes 70, Alameda 65.
Final Thoughts
After a loss that lingered, the Dons answered with toughness, patience, and collective belief. They leaned on history, honored family, trusted teammates, and played through adversity.
Sometimes the bounce-back matters more than the bounce.
And while the Ygnacio Valley loss earlier in the week remains painful, in what could fairly be described as a Pyrrhic victory, that game has reportedly continued to reverberate beyond the court.
The Dons now return to Diablo Athletic League play on Tuesday night at Las Lomas. Your author will be flying home from Orlando at the time, so the stands promise to be noticeably more pleasant.
Go Dons.
