 | | | Kellen Ito (#25) blocks Acalanes attack. He is watched by teammates Patrick Wirth (#4) and Adam Mancebo (#14) Photo Doug Kohen
| | | | | | Last Tuesday night, the Acalanes Dons boys' basketball team brought their 7-1 DFAL record and five-game win streak into Moraga for a rematch against first place Campolindo. The Dons hot streak did not help them against the Cougars as they lost, 57-40.
The Dons scored first when senior Jay Fowler hit a jumper. Campo answered right back when senior Brian Sanders stole the ball and went the length of the court for a layup. The lead changed hands several times in the period with Campo clinging to a 13-12 lead after one. The Cougars' senior Pat Wirth provided much of the offense with two three-pointers.
Campo started to pull away in the second quarter. After trading baskets, the Cougars went on a 12-5 run to end the period and take a 30-20 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Dons' senior Corey Collins hit a three to open the second half to cut the lead to seven, but the Dons got no closer. A tenacious Campo defense led by junior Erik Baker forced the Dons into several turnovers, missed shots and a scoreless spell that lasted almost six minutes in the third and fourth periods. The defensive effort allowed the Cougars to extend the lead to 44-29. Collins hit another three to make it 44-32 but senior Kellen Ito came right back down and scored on a pass from King and the Cougars never looked back.
The last few minutes of the game turned into a Campolindo free throw clinic with Sanders, Keeble and Wirth each hitting two free throws.
Collins led all scorers with 16 points while Fowler added 11. The Cougars' balanced attack featured King with 14, Wirth with 13 and Ito with 10. Ito and Mancebo each added nine rebounds.
This win, coupled with their 32-22 win over Dougherty Valley last Friday, gave Campolindo an 11-0 DFAL record (21-4 overall) and they clinched their fourth DFAL boys championship in the last five years. The Cougars close the regular season against Alhambra at home on Friday night. The Dons dropped to 7-2 in the DFAL and 14-10 in all games.
The NCS seeding meeting will be held on Sunday, February 21 and the Division III bracket where the three Lamorinda teams compete will have a minimum of 12 teams. Campo will get a high seed along with Bishop O'Dowd, Analy, and El Cerrito and likely a first round bye and then a home game. Acalanes will also make the field. Miramonte (12-12) blasted Dublin on Friday 77-40 and has played a strong schedule and a win against either Acalanes or Las Lomas in their final two games should get them in, as well.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA