Three weeks ago, Clayton Valley came into Lafayette and delivered a 58–13 drubbing so brutal that it barely qualified as a basketball game. It was the kind of loss that makes you question the sport, the season, and whether the rim has been slightly raised when nobody was looking. So no — nobody was exactly thrilled about seeing the Ugly…
For years, the story of this matchup was written in the same ink: Campolindo winning, and Acalanes searching for answers. But after a decade of dominance by the Cougars, the tide in Lamorinda has officially turned. The Dons’ drought against the Cougars lasted 2,957 days—from December 2017 until the breakthrough victory this past January. So, the question entering Thursday night’s…
Acalanes finished the season on a high note Monday afternoon, pulling away early and earning a 69–46 home win over College Park in the season finale. The Dons set the tone from the opening tip, taking a 16–14 lead after the 1st quarter before opening things up in the 2nd. Acalanes outscored College Park 22–5 in the quarter, using active…
Acalanes battled until the final possession Wednesday afternoon but came up just short in a hard-fought 67–66 loss to Miramonte. The teams were even after the opening quarter, tied 14–14, before Miramonte edged ahead in the 2nd quarter to take a 30–24 lead into halftime. Acalanes responded after the break, outscoring Miramonte 22–21 in the 3rd quarter and setting up…
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.…
Acalanes delivered another impressive team effort Friday, defeating Clayton Valley Charter 53–48 to vault themselves to the top of the league standings. The Dons came out aggressive in the opening quarter, taking a 16–11 lead behind active defense and confident shooting. Acalanes continued to apply pressure in the 2nd quarter, edging Clayton Valley Charter 14–11 to carry a 30–22 advantage…
Acalanes delivered a gritty, high-energy road performance Monday afternoon, battling through a physical game and executing late to earn a 48–42 win over Campolindo in a tightly contested rivalry matchup. Acalanes set the tone early, jumping out to a 16–9 lead in the opening quarter behind aggressive defense and strong rebounding. Campolindo responded to keep the game tight heading into…
For something to remain a true rivalry, both sides have to win their share. And, to be blunt, Acalanes hadn’t held up its end of that bargain against Campolindo in a while. In fact, the Dons’ last win over the Cougars came back in 2017. The last time Acalanes beat Campolindo, TikTok hadn’t been invented and the iPhone X was…
Acalanes came out strong Friday afternoon and set the tone early, earning a 50–37 win over Alhambra despite nearly half the squad out with injuries or illness. While only suiting up 8, Acalanes wasted no time establishing momentum, jumping out to a 20–7 lead in the opening quarter behind active defense and efficient shot-making. The Dons continued to apply pressure…
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,…