Two stars of the night: Dunking Landon Deily and Coach Ric Shepard

Before getting to the basketball, a bit of context.

Martinez is one of those towns that quietly carries more history than it lets on. Incorporated in 1876, it was an important Gold Rush–era trading and shipping hub, thanks to its location along the Carquinez Strait. Over the years, it has produced an eclectic list of notable residents, including Joe DiMaggio, Najee Harris, and the legendary naturalist John Muir. Local lore also claims Martinez as the birthplace of the martini, which—if true—makes it one of the more consequential towns in American history.

On Friday night, it also hosted an important Diablo Athletic League showdown, as Acalanes traveled to Alhambra for a game that had all the ingredients of a classic trap.

The Bulldogs entered with a strong 13–6 record, were playing on their home floor, and the Dons had Campolindo looming on Monday night. It would have been easy to lose focus. Instead, Acalanes stayed disciplined and walked out of Martinez with a composed 59–49 league victory.

A Shaky Start — and a Necessary Reset

The game, it should be noted, did not begin smoothly.

At the end of the first quarter, the Dons led by just 18–16, and Coach Powers was not pleased. The message during the break was pointed, energetic, and featured a strong pep talk. 

Coach Powers believes in expanding not just the Xs and Os on the hardwood, but also the educational horizons of the young men, some of whom have not yet taken the SAT.

The response was immediate. Defensive intensity ramped up, ball movement improved, and although Alhambra briefly seized the lead in the second quarter, the Dons had found their footing—and they never truly let go again.

A Meaningful Night for the Coaching Staff

This game carried extra significance for Assistant Coach Ric Shepard, who spent many successful years on the Alhambra sidelines. Two seasons ago, it was Coach Shepard—then coaching the Bulldogs—whose game plan helped engineer an upset of the Dons. This time, Ric was back in the Alhambra gym wearing blue and white, and Acalanes fans continue to see his influence, particularly in the Dons’ sharp Baseline Out of Bounds (BLOB) execution.

The night also meant a great deal to Assistant Coach Alejandro Palacios, who graduated from Alhambra and played for Coach Shepard. We are lucky to have both them as Dons!

Containing “The Money”

Alhambra’s top scorer, Cooper Largent, a 6’3” guard averaging 16 points per game, was clearly the Bulldogs’ offensive engine. Largent—L’Argent in French—means money, and stopping him was priority number one.

Coach Powers assigned that task primarily to Julian Hood, who at 5’9” was giving up a full six inches. Julian responded with relentless effort: full-court pressure, physical contests, disciplined positioning, and constant activity. As seen in the picture above, Julian gave no space to Largent. So impressed was the VBBR that we are exchanging our recent purchased Cooper Largent poster for a Julian Hood version.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game came early in the second quarter. With the Dons trailing 22–21, Julian locked in defensively, pressured Money relentlessly, and simply took the ball from him. He went coast-to-coast and finished at the rim, putting Acalanes back in front and forcing Alhambra to burn a timeout to regroup.

Julian’s impact wasn’t limited to defense. He added 4 points on 2–4 shooting and finished with 2 steals, providing efficient offense while setting the tone defensively.

Cam Hood and Bryce Mansour also took turns making life difficult for Largent, but Julian set the tone. By night’s end, Cooper Money was held below his season average.

Cam Hood: Efficient and Composed

This may have been Cam Hood’s most efficient performance of the season.

Cam finished with 14 points, but the all-around impact told the real story:

• 6–8 from the field

• 7 rebounds

• 2 steals

He took smart shots, defended with purpose, and consistently made the right read.

Vision, Balance, and a Strong Second Half

A.J. Hastings served as the Dons’ offensive organizer, accounting for 8 of the team’s 17 assists while adding 9 points. His vision and timing kept Acalanes composed, particularly during stretches when Alhambra tried to speed the game up.

Gavin Dodge shook off a quiet first half and delivered a strong second. The 6’5” wing finished with a team-high 19 points on 8–16 shooting, including 2–5 from three, while also grabbing 9 rebounds and handing out 2 assists.

Doing the Dirty Work

Bryce Mansour continued to make his minutes count. In addition to playing suffocating defense, Bryce recorded 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal, while converting his only field-goal attempt.

Off the floor, Bryce’s mother Ciara Mansour was flawless, running the scorebook under the steady guidance of Brad.

Preston Hilsabeck delivered an efficient, physical night:

• 9 points on 4–7 shooting

• 6 rebounds

• 2 assists

• 1 smooth three-pointer

• 2 moving screens (as Ricky Bobby famously said, “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying”)

The Exclamation Point

Late in the game, Aakash Agarwal threaded a beautiful pass to Landon Deily, the track-team high jumper turned basketball finisher, who rose up and threw down a right-handed dunk.

The dunk was impressive.
The reaction may have been better.

Landon’s father Trevor erupted from the stands and embraced Brad Hilsabeck as if he’d just won the lottery—a fitting exclamation point to the night.

Landon throws it down while Money looks on in awe.

Final Thoughts

This was a mature DAL road win for the Dons. They responded to early adversity, defended with purpose, shared the ball, and handled business in an environment that has tripped up good teams before.

The victory brings the Dons’ record to 12–9 overall and 4–1 in Diablo Athletic League play.

Next up:
The Dons head to Moraga on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. for a showdown with Campolindo.

Eyes forward.
Go Dons.