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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 looks at the final week of the EBAL regular season and how the results shape up the EBAL playoffs. We also look to see if the playoffs are necessary and prove anything.
EBAL Power Rankings has very little movement heading into the postseason as the usual suspects are holding the top spots. What to Watch has the schedule for the EBAL playoffs! The Fast Five lets you get to know Foothill girls’ basketball player Saanvi Majigud!
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
EBAL basketball: Girls’ regular season plays out as predicted, but boys see crazy sprint to finish line
The San Ramon Valley girls finished on top in the basketball regular season as expected, while the insanity that has been EBAL boys’ basketball finally ended to set the stage for the postseason tournaments.
Power Rankings as of Feb. 9.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. De La Salle (21-5, 7-2): The Spartans lost a complete game against Livermore, beat Monte Vista, then fell 50-46 to California. Ends up the regular season champs and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
2. Dougherty Valley (18-8, 6-3): The Wildcats end up splitting games beating San Ramon Valley but losing to Dublin 68-66. They end up second in the regular season, get the No. 2 seed, and host a playoff game.
3. Amador Valley (16-10, 5-4): The Dons split games last week, losing to California but then closing out with a win over Foothill to get a spot in the EBAL playoffs.
4. Dublin (18-8, 5-4): The Gaels finish with wins over Livermore and Dougherty Valley but due to some earlier losses in league finish 5-4 but out of the EBAL playoffs. Could make a nice run in NCS.
5. Monte Vista (16-10, 5-4): The Mustangs split games the last week, losing to De La Salle and beating San Ramon Valley. Get the fourth spot in the EBAL playoffs.
Others: California (14-12, 5-4), Granada (18-7, 5-4), San Ramon Valley (11-15, 4-5), Livermore (17-9, 3-6), Foothill (12-14, 0-9).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (22-3, 9-0): The Wolves head into the postseason on a roll, beating Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista to end the regular season, then crushed a good Pinewood team 70-37 in a non-league game.
2. Carondelet (21-4, 8-1): The Cougars close out league beating Monte Vista and California. Will see San Ramon Valley in the playoff championship.
3. Dublin (19-6, 7-2): When you only have EBAL losses to San Ramon Valley and Carondelet in league, you have had a great season. They are the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
4. California (17-9, 6-3): The Grizzlies beat Amador Valley, drop a non-league game to Pinole Valley, then close out with a loss to Carondelet. They have the No. 4 seed in the EBAL playoffs.
5. Dougherty Valley (19-7, 5-4): The Wildcats have a brutal scheduling week, losing to both San Ramon Valley and Dublin to end the regular season.
Others: Monte Vista (12-12, 4-5), Amador Valley (11-14, 3-6), Granada (9-17, 2-7), Foothill (9-16, 1-8), Livermore (11-16, 0-9).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. San Ramon Valley (14-3-5, 7-0-2): The Wolves finish in the top spot for the regular season after beating Dougherty Valley 5-2, then tying Monte Vista 3-3, by virtue of beating De La Salle 2-1 earlier this year. They finished EBAL play unbeaten and handed the Spartans their lone loss.
2. De La Salle (13-3-1, 8-1): The Spartans take a 4-1 win over Monte Vista in a big showdown to open the week, then close out the regular season with a 2-0 win over Cal.
3. Monte Vista (12-3-3, 7-1-1): The Mustangs knew coming into the last week it was going to be a grind and it was as they fell 4-1 to De La Salle, then tie San Ramon Valley 3-3.
4. Amador Valley (12-6, 5-4): The Dons needed a pair of wins to get into the playoffs, and a pair beating California 6-0, then Foothill 2-1.
5. Livermore (12-7, 5-4): The Cowboys close out the regular season with wins over Dublin (2-1) then Granada (1-0) to end the regular season strong.
Others: Granada (9-6-2, 3-5-1), Dublin (10-8-2, 3-6), Foothill (7-6-3, 2-5-2), Dougherty Valley (4-12-1, 2-7), California (1-15-5, 0-9).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Carondelet (13-1-3, 7-0): The Cougars take out Monte Vista 2-1, then California 2-0 to end the unbeaten regular season.
2. Amador Valley (6-1-3, 6-1-2): The Dons tied Cal 0-0, then beat Foothill 2-0 to end the regular season. Jump to No. 2 having the best last week of the 2-4 teams.
3. San Ramon Valley (9-2-2, 5-2-2): The Wolves drop a spot after beating Dougherty Valley 5-1, but losing to Monte Vista 1-0.
4. California (12-4-1, 6-2-1): The Grizzlies tied Amador 0-0 to start the week, then fell to Carondelet in a showdown 2-0 to end the regular season.
5. Granada (14-3-2, 5-3-1): The Matadors end the regular season with a 2-0 win over Foothill and a 4-0 win over Livermore. The Mats will miss the EBAL playoffs as only the top four qualify but could be a threat in NCS.
Others: Monte Vista (8-5-3, 5-4), Foothill (4-7-1, 3-6), Dublin (3-11-2, 0-8-1), Livermore (6-10-3, 1-7-1), Dougherty Valley (2-12-1, 0-7-2).
Today (Feb. 10) – EBAL girls’ basketball playoffs: California at San Ramon Valley, Dublin at Carondelet, both 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (Feb. 11) – EBAL boys’ basketball playoffs: Monte Vista at De La Salle, Amador Valley at Dougherty Valley, both 7 p.m.
Thursday (Feb. 12) – EBAL boys’ soccer playoffs: Amador Valley at De La Salle, Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley, both 6 p.m. EBAL girls’ soccer playoffs: San Ramon Valley at Carondelet, California at Amador Valley. Both 6 p.m.
Friday (Feb. 13) – EBAL boys’ basketball playoffs: Amador Valley-Dougherty Valley vs. Monte Vista-De La Salle winner, 7 p.m. EBAL girls’ basketball playoffs: California-San Ramon Valley winner vs. Dublin-Carondelet winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday (Feb. 14) – EBAL boys’ soccer playoffs: Amador Valley-De La Salle winner vs. Monte Vista-San Ramon Valley winner, 6 p.m. EBAL girls’ soccer playoffs: San Ramon Valley-Carondelet winner vs. California-Amador Valley, 6 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: New Eagles OC Mannion showed coaching promise from early age
“But for those of us around Pleasanton, the news wasn’t shocking at all. If anyone with as little experience was going to be hired for such a position, it was Sean Mannion.”
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: Saanvi Majigud
School and grade: Foothill (senior)
Sport: Basketball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: R&B / Rap / Drake
Who is a must-follow on social media: ESPN (@espn)
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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