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Welcome to the Playbook!
It is time for another week of the 2025-26 prep sports year! The Playbook takes you inside the East Bay Athletic League, writing about outlooks, updates and insights into all the sports, along with profiles of athletes, and opinions regarding controversial issues in high school sport.
The Big Picture breaks down the EBAL basketball and soccer leagues as they head into the last two weeks of the regular season. There is a lot to be determined, such as league playoff seedings and potential North Coast Section berths.
EBAL Power Rankings have little movement at the top but underneath there was some movement in boys’ basketball as teams split their weeks. What to Watch has the schedule for interesting games in the four winter leagues.
The Fast Five visits with Livermore basketball player Dylan Wherry. His favorite fast food place order is not for the faint of heart!
If you know of a great story, or have any questions, please reach out either by email at acesgolf@aol.com or by phone at 925-200-0719.
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Critical two weeks coming up for EBAL soccer, basketball
It might be hard to believe, but there are just two weeks left in the East Bay Athletic League basketball and soccer regular seasons…
Power Rankings as of Jan. 25.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. De La Salle (19-3, 5-0): The Spartans beat Amador Valley (62-46) and Foothill (53-26). They did suffer a 62-43 loss to St. Joseph of Santa Maria, who is 22-2 on the season.
2. Dougherty Valley (15-7, 3-2): The Wildcats fell 74-69 to Granada but then rallied back to crush Monte Vista 61-46. With other teams losing a game as well, they stay at No. 2 for now.
3. Amador Valley (14-8, 3-2): The Dons start the week off with a 62-46 loss to De La Salle, but had a huge rebound, beating Dublin 45-40.
4. Dublin (15-7, 2-3): The Gaels climb back into the top five beating Monte Vista 49-38, then play Amador tough, but fall 45-40.
5. Monte Vista (14-8, 3-2): The Mustangs drop EBAL games to Dublin and Dougherty Valley but still have a winning EBAL record.
Others: Livermore (16-6, 2-3), Granada (15-6, 2-3), California (11-11, 2-3), Foothill (12-9, 0-5), San Ramon Valley (10-12, 3-2).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (17-3, 6-0): The Wolves beat California and Granada by a combined 193-45 to stay perfect during league.
2. Carondelet (16-4, 5-1): The Cougars win a pair of games in an out-of-state tournament, then come back and beat Amador Valley in their lone EBAL games last week.
3. Dublin (16-4, 4-2): The Gaels have won eight games in a row but already had both their games against San Ramon Valley and Carondelet. The last game of the regular season with Dougherty Valley will be a great one.
4. Dougherty Valley (16-3, 4-1): The Wildcats are having a real strong season, but they have the misfortune of being in the same league as SRV and Carondelet.
5. California (12-7, 3-2): The Grizzlies fall to San Ramon Valley then come back and get a 50-22 win over Livermore.
Others: Monte Vista (10-10, 2-3), Granada (7-15, 0-5), Amador Valley (8-10, 2-3), Foothill (8-11, 1-4), Livermore (10-13, 0-6).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. San Ramon Valley (11-3-3, 5-0): The Wolves trash Cal 11-0, then take care of Granada 2-0 to keep a hold on that top spot
2. De La Salle (9-3-1, 4-1): The Spartans take care of the Pleasanton schools beating Amador 3-0 and Foothill 3-0.
3. Monte Vista (10-1-2, 5-0): The Mustangs keep their great season going with wins over Dublin and Dougherty Valley.
4. Amador Valley (9-5, 2-3): The Dons fall 3-0 to De La Salle but did right the ship to come back and beat Dublin 2-1.
5. Livermore (10-5, 3-2): The Cowboys jump into the top five after beating Foothill 2-1, then ending the week with a 7-2 win over Cal.
Others: Granada (8-4-1, 2-3), Dublin (8-5-2, 2-3), Foothill (6-4-1, 1-4), Dougherty Valley (3-9-1, 1-4), California (1-10-5, 0-5).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Carondelet (9-1-3, 5-0): The Cougars take over the top spot after beating Amador 2-1, then Foothill 4-0. Early-season win over San Ramon Valley gives them the top spot.
2. San Ramon Valley (6-1-2, 2-1-2): The Wolves jump up to No. 2 after their win over California. Early league loss to Carondelet keeps them from the top spot.
3. California (10-2, 4-1): The Grizzlies dropped their first EBAL match, falling 1-0 to San Ramon Valley. They came back and beat Livermore 1-0 to end the week. The Grizzlies fall a couple spots this week.
4. Amador Valley (3-1-2, 3-1-1): The Dons dropped a tough 2-1 match to Carondelet but ended the week with 1-0 win over Dublin.
5. Granada (10-2-2, 2-2-1): The Mats took out Dougherty Valley 3-0, then battled San Ramon Valley to a 1-1 final.
Others: Monte Vista (6-3-3, 3-2), Foothill (4-3-1, 3-2), Dublin (3-8-1, 0-5), Livermore (5-7-3, 0-4-1), Dougherty Valley (1-9-1, 0-4-1).
Today (Jan. 27) – EBAL boys’ basketball: De La Salle at Livermore, 7:30 p.m. EBAL girls’ soccer: Monte Vista at Amador Valley, 6:30 p.m. EBAL boys’ soccer: Amador Valley at Monte Vista, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Jan. 29) – EBAL girls’ soccer: Foothill at California, 6:30 p.m.
Friday (Jan. 30) – EBAL boys’ basketball: Dougherty Valley at Amador Valley, Granada at De La Salle, Livermore at Monte Vista, all 7:30 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: Mixed results for Amador teams last week
Smith, Krueger help Dons bounce back with key basketball wins; boys’ varsity soccer loses three games – each by 2-1 score…
We interview high school athletes and coaches all the time. Occasionally we ask them questions that have nothing to do with sports. Here’s one:
Name: Dylan Wherry
School and grade: Livermore (senior)
Sport: Basketball and Baseball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Stranger Things” and “Money Heist”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: Rap / Lil Uzi Vert
Who is a must follow on social media: Steph Curry
Favorite fast-food restaurant and meal: In-N-Out / 2 double doubles and animal-style fries
Favorite quote: “Be great.”
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email us.
Dennis Miller is a veteran sports writer and editor, covering sports in the Tri-Valley for over 35 years. In addition to being the editor of Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, he has written a weekly column for Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonWeekly.com, “Pleasanton Preps,” since 2011. Email him at sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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