The Acalanes Dons beat Dublin 71-65 last week Photo provided

Lamorinda basketball rivalries continued on January 25th and both the girls' and boys' games between Acalanes and Miramonte were close.

In the boys' game, defense was the key as the Dons defeated the Matadors, 60-54. The Dons did not allow a basket until Miramonte senior Chris Hatfield scored at the 3:11 mark. Before Hatfield's basket, the Dons had built a 12-0 lead with four Dons scoring. Acalanes continued building a lead to 22-7 behind seniors Corey Collins and Zach Bloom.

The Matadors then pushed up their defensive pressure and held the Dons scoreless for the last four minutes of the period, as Hatfield scored seven points and senior Davis Louie hit a three to continue the Mats offensive effort. At half the Dons' lead had diminished to 24-17.

In the second half, the Mats kept chiseling away at the Dons lead, eventually knotting the score at 30. The teams exchanged leads for the next few minutes before Bloom put Acalanes ahead, 40-39. Acalanes remained in the lead the rest of the game. Play remained even, but the Dons' Collins hit seven of eight free throws to seal the victory, 60-54.

Last Wednesday, January 27th, Collins hit 30 as Acalanes came from behind to beat Dougherty Valley 71-57. Meanwhile, Miramonte, behind sophomore Ross Anderson's 19 points, beat Las Lomas 68-60.

On Friday, Acalanes beat Dublin 71-65 in overtime to run its record to 6-1 in the DFAL and 12-8 overall. Collins was the leading scorer with 24. Miramonte (10-10, 4-3 DFAL) was stunned in Martinez as a furious second half comeback came up short with the Bulldogs winning 46-43. McDonald had 17 in the losing effort. Campolindo (17-4, 7-0 DFAL) beat Las Lomas and maintained its one game lead over Acalanes.

The girls' rivalry match-up on Monday was also a game of streaks and solid defense. Senior Stephanie Golden scored the first two points of the game for Miramonte, but the Dons led after one period, 7-5. Behind seniors Emani Harrison and Jamie Horn, the Dons outscored the Lady Mats 12-6 in the second period and led by eight at the half. The third period was also punctuated by defense as Acalanes' junior Kiara Harewood blocked several shots and made key assists to give the Dons an 11 point lead going into the fourth.

The Dons tenacious defense had held Miramonte to only four field goals in the first three periods. Then the Miramonte offense got rolling. Junior Liza Katz drilled two long range jumpers in the first minute of the period and the Mats were within five. Harrison hit a layup on a terrific pass from Harewood before Golden answered with another basket. Harrison scored two more of her game high 17 points to keep the lead at seven with just under six minutes to go. The Mats went on a 10-2 run to take the lead. Senior Kristine Miller hit a three, Katz a two and Golden added traditional three-point play and another basket to take a 34-33 lead. Junior Alyssa Johanson scored the last four points of the game to seal the Mats' 38-34 win.

On Wednesday, January 27th, Campolindo returned to its winning ways, crushing Alhambra 62-22, led by Meghan Ringer's 18 points, Dougherty Valley beat Acalanes 59-38 and Miramonte hammered Las Lomas 66-37 behind Golden's 18 points.

On Friday, Acalanes (12-8, 2-5 DFAL) lost to Dublin 46-40 while Campolindo (14-6, 4-3 DFAL) pounded Las Lomas 79 to 32 and Miramonte (17-3, 7-0 DFAL) stayed in first place with a 79 to 23 crushing of Alhambra. Golden led the Lady Mats with 17 points.