 | | | Laura Hickey #32 had 11 in the win. Photos Kevin Nguyen
| | | | | | Last week the Campolindo Cougars continued their dominant season, defeating rival Acalanes. Campo (16-3, 4-1), who has not lost to the Dons (8-11, 1-4) since 2008, notched a convincing 66-26 win Jan. 22.
"I think we continue to play hard and we don't quit regardless of the situation, but the DFAL is not a 'learning league' where you begin to work on improving for your season, as all the teams are way past that point and hungry when league starts," Dons' head coach Chris Russell explained after the game.
The game started with back-and-forth scoring early before Campolindo went on an 11-2 run to end the first quarter. Campo senior forward Laura Hickey started the scoring and the Dons quickly answered when freshman Julie Anne Martin hit a three pointer to give the Dons the 3-2 lead. Campo junior Ashley Ewing made a layup, the first points of her game-high 23 and Campo took back the lead. Martin hit two free throws with 6:15 to go and Acalanes had their last lead of the game at 5-4.
The second period was no different as the Cougars followed a three-pointer from Dons' senior Jamie Jacobs with a10-0 run.
At halftime, Campo led 37-15.
In the second half, Campolindo senior guard Courtney Seyranian's outside shooting helped the Cougars pull away.
"Courtney has been solid for us all season, her outside shooting makes it tough for teams to focus only on Ashley and Laura, or just sitting back in a zone," said head coach Elgin Leslie.
In addition to her 23 points, Ewing had seven rebounds and seven steals. Seyranian finished with 15 points and Hickey added 11.
Martin led the Lady Dons with ten points, going five-for-five from the line.
Russell had to adjust his lineup when senior leader Molly Martin went down with a knee injury. Her younger sister, Julie Ann, has stepped up as the Dons' leading scorer.
"She has a good feel for the game, and plays with an aggressive style," he noted, "She has all the physical tools to be a really good player."
Campolindo continued its winning ways with a 74-24 crushing of Las Lomas on Friday and the next morning they came back from a 12-point deficit to beat Castro Valley 60-46.
"I'm proud of the way we responded after we fell behind and how we battled back and played tough defense to close the gap," said Leslie.
Acalanes edged Alhambra 41-39 for their first DFAL win Friday.
Miramonte completed two strong weeks raising their record to 19-1 (6-0 DFAL) handing Clovis West their only loss in their last 12 games, 70-54, and on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat defending CIF Division II state champion Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 69-55 at the Campolindo/Bentley Shootout in Lafayette.
The Lady Mats were led by three freshmen, Sabrina Ionescu, Keanna De los Santos, and Uriah Howard who scored 24, 17, and eight, respectively.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA