Miramonte arrived in Lafayette on Wednesday night with the exact same record as Acalanes: 13–10. On paper, this was a dead-even Lamorinda showdown.
But on other paper — the kind that spits out statewide rankings — Acalanes entered ranked 151st in California, well ahead of Miramonte at 355th.
And early on, the game looked like it might reflect that difference.
The Dons stormed out of the gate with the kind of start that makes coaches relax and opposing fans reach for their phones. After just 3 minutes and 30 seconds, Acalanes had jumped out to a 14–3 lead, fueled by 8 early points from Gavin Dodge and 6 from Cam Hood.
It felt like a mismatch.
Then… silence.
The Dons went quiet for the remainder of the quarter, and what could have been a runaway turned into a grind. By the end of the first, the lead had shrunk to 17–12, and Miramonte had officially announced: we’re not going anywhere.
A Second Quarter to Forget
If the first quarter was a missed opportunity, the second quarter was something worse.
It may have been the roughest stretch of basketball Acalanes has played all season.
The ball stopped moving. Defensive rotations were slow. Miramonte gained confidence with every possession. And suddenly, the Matadors weren’t hanging around — they were ahead.
With two minutes left in the half, Miramonte had taken a 26–22 lead, and the Dons looked stunned.
It also felt, briefly, like an away game.
Miramonte’s student section showed up in full voice, bringing energy, chants, and a level of enthusiasm that suggested they were thrilled to visit Lafayette — a town that, unlike Orinda, contains more than one restaurant. (Casa Orinda is fine, but come on.)
Preston’s Season-Saving Muscle Play
Just when things were slipping, Preston Hilsabeck delivered one of the biggest momentum plays of the season.
He grabbed an offensive rebound it traffic, put it up, made the bucket and the free throw after being fouled. It cut the deficit to one and reminded everyone: the Dons weren’t going down quietly.
After a Miramonte bucket, it was 28–25 with 20 seconds left.
And then…
A.J. Hastings Changes Everything
Enter A.J. Hastings.
With the clock winding down, Hastings launched a deep three at the buzzer — nothing but net.
Instead of heading into halftime trailing after an ugly quarter, Acalanes walked off the floor tied:
28–28.
It was not the half the Dons wanted.
But it was exactly the lifeline they needed.
Third Quarter: The Dons Wake Up
Whatever was said in the locker room worked.
Acalanes came out swinging in the third:
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Hastings attacked the rim for an early bucket
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Then found Gavin Dodge for a huge three
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The ball started popping again
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The defense sharpened
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The lead slowly returned
By the end of the third quarter, the Dons had reclaimed control:
45–39 Acalanes.
Not dominant.
But steady.
Closing Time
Miramonte never went away, but Acalanes never gave the lead back.
The Dons executed just enough, defended just enough, and made free throws when it mattered most.
Final score:
Acalanes 58, Miramonte 53
It wasn’t pretty.
But it was a win.
And at this point in the season, those count the same.
Final Numbers
A.J. Hastings — Player of the Game
A career night:
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24 points
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11–12 from the free throw line
Over his last three games, Hastings has now gone 23-for-26 at the stripe, which is borderline automatic.
With four starters graduating after this season, A.J. is clearly preparing for a much larger scoring load next year — and doing it loudly.
Gavin Dodge
A steady all-around night:
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15 points
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7 rebounds and a key block
Cam Hood
The outside shooting was huge:
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14 points
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4 three-pointers
King of Lamorinda
Let’s be honest:
Boys Basketball is now the undisputed king of Lamorinda.
The Dons have beaten both Campolindo and Miramonte.
The crown currently resides in Lafayette.
What’s Next
Two games remain in the regular season:
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Friday night at Concord
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Monday at home vs. College Park — Senior Night
The Dons are now 6–2 in DAL play, sitting alone in second place.
Come out and support this group.
One Last VBBR Investigation…
A.J.’s free throw shooting has become so prolific that the VBBR staff decided to investigate whether there was any precedent.
We found none this century.
But we did uncover evidence from 1989…
A mysterious “Prep of the Week” from the mean streets of Marin who once made 18 of 19 free throws in one game, photographed in what can only be described as a turtleneck-based crime against fashion.
History doesn’t repeat itself.
But sometimes it shoots 95% from the line.
February is here. The gyms get louder, the whistles get tighter, and every possession starts to feel like the season depends on it…because it does. It’s turtleneck weather.
Go Dons.
