Bryce Mansour’s excellent defense earned him a photo with the Foothill Mustang.
The first game of 2026 sent the Acalanes Dons out of familiar Lamorinda territory and into Foothill High School, where it was immediately clear this would be a different kind of road test.
The Game Plan: Stop #5
Foothill came in with a clear focal point: Tomari Harris (#5), a dynamic scorer averaging 25 points per game. From the opening tip, the Dons’ mission was simple in theory—and difficult in execution: make life miserable for Tomari.
That responsibility fell primarily to Julian Hood and Bryce Mansour, with Shea Stahl also logging key defensive minutes. The results won’t jump off the box score, but they absolutely jumped out in real time—and in the Varsity Boys Basketball Report (VBBR).
The Dons:
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Denied him the ball
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Switched screens intelligently
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Forced him to work for every catch and every look
This kind of defensive discipline doesn’t show up neatly in stat columns, but it shows up where it matters most: in the flow of the game. Credit to the coaching staff for the plan—and to the players for executing it.
Ball Movement Meets the 1980s
The pregame soundtrack at Foothill leaned heavily into the 1980s, featuring classics like Eye of the Tiger and I Like the Way You Move It. Whether by coincidence or subconscious suggestion, the Dons took the message to heart.
They moved the ball beautifully.
Acalanes finished with an eye-popping 24 assists and just 4 turnovers, an elite 6:1 assist-to-turnover ratio that will win a lot of basketball games—at any level.
Sharing the rock works.
The VBBR has receipts.
Gavin Dodge Does It All
With the offense humming, Gavin Dodge was the primary beneficiary—and the primary driver. Gavin delivered a complete performance, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists—another double-double to add to a growing collection.
He shot 10-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, attacking the rim, knocking down open looks, and capitalizing on the ball movement around him.
Several of Gavin’s buckets came directly off assists—exactly how this offense is designed to function.
Balanced Contributions Across the Board
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Preston Hilsabeck was steady and physical, scoring 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting, while pulling down 8 rebounds and finishing strong around the rim.
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A.J. Hastings added 11 points, knocking down three triples, while also serving as a connective piece offensively with 8 assists.
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Cameron Hood chipped in 7 points and 5 assists, helping orchestrate the offense even on a night when his shot wasn’t falling.
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Julian Hood made his mark on both ends, scoring 6 points, hitting two threes, and playing a major role in the defensive game plan.
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Bryce Mansour and Shea Stahl contributed important minutes, particularly on the defensive end, where effort and discipline set the tone.
Handling the Pushback
Foothill made several runs—like a bad penny, they kept showing up—but the Dons never panicked. When possessions slowed or shots rushed (particularly late in the second quarter), Acalanes regrouped, refocused, and returned to what worked: ball movement and defensive intensity.
By the fourth quarter, the outcome was largely in hand, and the Dons closed out a 71–55 road victory.
Final Thought
This was a mature win.
The Dons showed they can:
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Execute a targeted defensive game plan
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Take care of the basketball
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Share the load offensively
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Win in a hostile, high-security environment
The box score tells part of the story.
The VBBR tells the rest.
Up Next
The Dons are right back to work with a Diablo Athletic League matchup against Ygnacio Valley on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
League play rolls on.
Go Dons.
A.J. Hastings with one of his team-high 8 assists.
Coach Powers giving an “Atta Boy” to Julian Hood for his suffocating defense on Foothill’s best player.
Cam Hood with a no-look pass for one of his 5 assists on the day.
Bryce and Jon in good defensive position while one of 12 security guards looks on.
Shea Stahl in excellent guarding position, no doubt inspired by the playing of “Eye of The Tiger” in pre-game.
Gavin with a pass in traffic between two defenders with great heads of hair.
Shea in great guarding position.
The Hood Brothers making life difficult for the Mustangs while security guards flirt.
Julian with a shot block with Gavin’s assistance.
Preston in full motion
Aakash serves a Wilson-Burger to #4.
The team celebrates on the sideline including flex-off from Julian and “Dinosaur Arms” from Jon.
Justice Hembrador showing off his guns in the low post.
Aakash with a nice dish to Landon Deily for a basket.
Sam Phillips doing his Magic Johnson impersonation with a beautiful no-look pass.