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CONCORD — The Campolindo boys basketball team has been in a frosty mood since a last-second loss to Bishop O’Dowd, and the Cougars are taking it out on their Diablo Athletic League opponents.
Campo, ranked seventh in the Bay Area Preps HQ Top 25, improved to 15-5 overall and 6-0 in league by making Clayton Valley Charter the latest victim of its anger with a 53-35 victory that was never close.
The Cougars led 19-5 at the end of the first quarter, it was 29-9 at halftime, and when Clayton Valley dared show some life in the third period, Campo snuffed it out with the first six points of the fourth quarter to go up by 25 at 44-19.
“We came out angry and mad, like we had something to prove,” said Campo star Aidan Mahaney, who scored 13 points in the first quarter on the way to a game-high 21 points. “I think we’re going to keep that chip on our shoulder.”
After losing to sixth-ranked Bishop O’Dowd by one point at St. Mary’s College on Monday, the Cougars demolished Las Lomas by 26 on Tuesday before holding 17th-ranked Clayton Valley (15-4, 4-1) to a season-low 35 points. The Ugly Eagles were averaging 74.6 points per game coming in.
“They didn’t shoot the ball well,” Campolindo coach Steven Dyer said of Clayton Valley, “but our focus is always on defense.”
Campo’s defense was especially tough in the first half, as it limited Clayton Valley to a pair of two-point baskets, one in each quarter. The Eagles scored their other five points at the free-throw line. The Cougar defense softened a little after intermission, but not that much. Clayton Valley didn’t sink a 3-pointer the entire game.
Mahaney was the only Campolindo player in double figures with his 21. Fellow sophomore Matt Radell had nine, with six of those coming in the first quarter.
Clayton Valley’s leading scorer was Pedro Alday with 12, all in the second half.
Campolindo only has six games left during the regular season, all against DAL-Foothill Division rivals. If the Cougars continue to play the way they have this week, there is a good chance they will be invited to the North Coast Section’s Open Division playoff. It will feature six teams as selected by the NCS seeding committee.
Frontrunners for the moment appear to be Salesian, Bishop O’Dowd and Dougherty Valley. Campolindo is certainly making its case. De La Salle, Dublin and Branson are three more candidates with solid credentials.
While Dyer was very pleased with Campo’s defensive effort on Friday, he wasn’t thrilled with how the offense played. But with a 20-point lead at the break, he understood.
“When you’re up by 20, it’s hard to sustain focus,” he said. “But I like how the guys have responded since the loss (to Bishop O’Dowd).”
Now they just have to stay angry for a few more weeks.
No. 2 Archbishop Mitty 46, No. 11 Serra 45
Mitty held off Serra in the closing seconds in San Mateo to stay within a game of the lead in the West Catholic Athletic League. Serra’s Antonio Abeyta caught an inbound back in the backcourt with 4.2 seconds left and dribbled up the right side before getting off a runner as time expired. The shot appeared short of the basket but was blocked by Michael Mitchell on its downward trajectory. The Padres players and coaches pleaded for a goal-tending call, but the refs did not agree. Mitty improved to 14-3 overall and 5-2 in the WCAL. Serra fell to 13-4, 5-2. Both trail Archbishop Riordan by a game in the standings. Owen Browne and Marcus Greene scored nine points apiece to lead Mitty. Arrish Bhandal chipped in with eight. Abeyta had the hot hand for Serra, finishing with 19. Julius Alcantara had 12.
No. 8 Dougherty Valley 69, Livermore 29
The home team ended any suspense in this one early, building a 15-point cushion after one quarter and taking a 52-19 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Dougherty Valley ran its record to 18-2 overall and 7-0 in the East Bay Athletic League. Aidan Sevilla led the way with 18 points. The Wildcats also got 14 points from Donovan Sevilla and 13 from freshman Ryan Beasley. Livermore is 4-14, 0-7.
Cupertino 65, Los Gatos 62 (4 OTs)
By now, Cupertino is used to nail-biters. But Friday night’s game went to another level. It took four overtimes for the Pioneers to emerge with a victory on their home court against Los Gatos, the latest in a string of tight league contests for Cupertino. Jack Townsend scored 21 points and Andrew Chen had 14 to lead the Pioneers, who improved to 10-8 overall and 3-3 in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division. All six of the Cupertino’s league games have been decided by three points or fewer. Los Gatos fell to 8-11, 1-6.
Elsewhere
Two days after beating De La Salle, No. 23 Monte Vista had no letdown, stretching its winning streak to three games with a 53-34 victory at home over Foothill. Monte Vista is 13-7, 5-2. Foothill dropped to 12-8, 2-5. … No. 9 De La Salle won for the fifth time in seven EBAL games, turning back Amador Valley 60-39. The Spartans had a 15-point advantage at halftime and a 21-point cushion through three quarters. DLS is 14-5, 5-2. Amador Valley fell to 12-8, 3-4.
