The Dons opened the 2025 regular season with home games against Las Lomas and Northgate. Both contests were competitive, and Acalanes split the week by beating Las Lomas on Tuesday, before falling to Northgate two days later.
Game 1 – Acalanes 70, Las Lomas 62
The regular season opener saw Acalanes facing Las Lomas for the second time. Aca won the first matchup 66 – 51, but the rematch proved to be much more competitive. Las Lomas jumped out to a quick 7 – 0 lead by repeatedly pounding the ball inside, where they had a size advantage. This was one of the major storylines in the game, as Las Lomas scored 15 of their 20 baskets inside the key and netted twenty (20!) free throws from fouls at the rim. Acalanes countered with 12 threes and bouts of solid press defense. Cash Woehrle stole a pass and sped down the court, which led to a Brandon Blatteis floater to get the Dons on the board. The Knights scored two straight to push the lead to 11 – 2. Aca found their footing, hitting a couple of threes and nabbing several steals for two easy buckets. Still, Las Lomas led 17 – 12 after one.
Acalanes stormed ahead in the second quarter, with Woehrle throwing a nice shot fake at a Las Lomas big and swishing a foul line jumper. Back to back threes by Woehrle and Blatteis gave the Dons their first lead. Two quick steals led to threes by Blatteis and Frankie Rocca for a 26 – 21 lead. The Knights continued to go inside and get fouled, but a Blatteis three at the buzzer gave him 11 points in the quarter, and Aca led 36 – 28 at the half.
The Knights started with two quick layups in the third to cut into the lead, but Acalanes maintained their rhythm and movement on offense to get good shots, and communicated on defense to put up better resistance inside. Las Lomas still got to their strong hand drives too easily, but a Rocca assist to Woehrle cutting through the lane and a Kainoa Brinkman three-pointer kept the lead at 8 going into the fourth, 52 – 44.
Las Lomas hit one of their two threes to open the quarter and proceeded to reel off 9 straight points to take their first lead since the opening period. The Dons could have panicked and folded, but instead they took their game to another level. Brayden Sarbiewski hit Pengyu Chen for an open three at top of the key to take the lead right back. Back to back steals led to a Woehrle floater and two Chen free throws. Rocca grabbed a huge defensive rebound, and Sarbiewski crashed the offensive glass for a strong rebound and putback, capping a 9 – 0 Don run. The defense stiffened up inside and took away the Knights’ biggest weapon. A Woerhle three and two Blatteis free throws sealed the victory, 70 – 62. Blatteis (22), Woehrle (20), and Chen (15) led the scoring for Acalanes.
Game 2 – Acalanes 54, Northgate 61
The Dons squared off against a tough Northgate team in the second league game, and both teams came out with great energy, pushing the pace, and defending all over the floor. Aca got the scoring started with a Pengyu Chen drive and layup, and a Brandon Blatteis steal and finish. Brayden Sarbiewski sprung Blatteis for an open three and followed with five points of his own. Frankie Rocca added a three for a 15 – 9 lead at the 4-minute mark. Unfortunately, Acalanes wouldn’t score again in the quarter, despite having a number of good looks. Northgate hit a three of their own and then took advantage of a defensive breakdown on an inbounds play under their basket for an easy layup. They made 1 of 2 free throws to end the scoring in the quarter with the game tied at 15.
The Broncos came out hot in the second with two quick threes. Cash Woehrle hit a three and got a lay-in off of a nice assist from Rocca to keep Aca close. The Dons continued to get good looks, but the shots stopped falling. Northgate benefitted from a few fortunate bounces, but largely made their own luck by crashing the boards for second chances and two easy putbacks. Acalanes continued to see their shots roll out, including a couple of free throws. Northgate hit the last of their 4 threes in the quarter to take a 37 – 28 lead into the half.
The third quarter saw both teams make runs, starting with Acalanes. A Blatteis three was followed by a Mason Andersen two, and Chen found Blatteis on a wonderful back-cut along the baseline for a layup to close within two, 39 – 37. Northgate swung right back, getting fouled on a drive and converting two free throws, then forcing two live ball turnovers for breakaway layups, including an And-1. Another Northgate jumper and the lead was back up to 9, 44 – 35. Aca settled down and ran several good offensive sets, showing patience and keeping their heads up. Rocca hit a three, and Grady Branagh got fouled at the basket, going 1 for 2 from the line. Woehrle hit a three to close the quarter and get Acalanes within 4, 44 – 48.
The fourth quarter played out similarly, with the teams trading baskets for most of the way. The margin stayed at four to six throughout, with Acalanes not quite able to get over the hump. In the crucial moments, the Broncos made the plays that mattered, turning Aca over twice, rebounding Aca’s misses, and hitting a dagger three from the corner with 45 seconds left to seal the win, 61 – 54. Blatteis led the Dons with 21, followed by Woehrle with 12.
