Today’s edition is sponsored by Rose Hotel
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Welcome to the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook!
It’s time for another week of the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, your inside source for all things sports when it comes to the East Bay Athletic League!
I’ve been covering the EBAL since 1985 and know the coaches, players, parents, and athletic staff at all the schools, giving me the inside scoop on what is happening behind the scenes!
Join me each week for some honest feelings about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of high school athletics!
The Big Picture is all about the incident at Monte Vista High where a basketball official punched an obnoxious fan. There are parents that continue to verbally abuse officials in all sports and an official finally acted out. What are possible solutions to end this childish behavior by parents?
The EBAL Power Rankings have a pair of new No. 1’s as the EBAL playoffs had some upsets along the exciting week!
What to Watch has the first week of North Coast Section basketball and soccer pairings! Where are our teams seeded, as well as when and where they play.
The Fast Five returns this week with Amador Valley girls’ soccer goalie Sydney Head stepping into the limelight!
That’s it for another week of the 2023-24 Tri-Valley Preps Playbook! Got a great story idea? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com! Have a great year and I look forward once again to seeing how our local athletes compete!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller
Playbook Editor
sports@pleasantonweekly.com
Ref hits relentless fan at Monte Vista game. Now what?
It’s finally happened. Recently a high school fan was punched by a game official. Let me repeat that and let it sink in – a ref punched a parent after a game at Monte Vista High School. Where should we go from here?
Power Rankings as of Feb. 12.
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1) Monte Vista (14-2-3): The Mustangs make a run through the EBAL playoffs beating San Ramon Valley (1-0) and Dougherty Valley (2-0) to win the title.
2) Dougherty Valley (14-4-4): Had an amazing week in the EBAL playoffs beating Granada (1-0) and De La Salle (3-0) before falling 2-0 in the EBAL playoffs championship game.
3) De La Salle (12-3-2): Fell 3-0 to Dougherty Valley in the semifinals of the EBAL playoffs. Drops a couple spots this week.
4) San Ramon Valley (11-8-4): The Wolves played Monte Vista tough in the EBAL semifinals but dropped a 1-0 decision.
5) Granada (12-4-2): Lost in the first round of the EBAL playoffs but did give Dougherty Valley a tough time in a 1-0 loss.
Others: Amador Valley (12-9), California (4-7-5), Livermore (5-6-5), Foothill (8-11-1), Dublin (6-10-3).
1) Amador Valley (10-1-1): Played only 12 games this year but in those 12 the Dons have taken the EBAL regular season and playoff title. Dominated Carondelet, winning 3-0 in the finals.
2) Carondelet (12-4-4): The Cougars saw their streak of six shutouts come to an end in a big was as Amador knocked them off 3-0 in the finals.
3) Monte Vista (10-3-3): Suffered a tough 1-0 loss in double overtime to Carondelet in the EBAL playoffs.
4) San Ramon Valley (13-2-2): Dropped a 2-1 game to eventual champion Amador Valley in the EBAL playoffs.
5) California (6-6-3): The Grizzlies have given up only two goals in their last six games but those came in 1-0 losses. The offense needs to start clicking in NCS play.
Others: Granada (7-10-1), Dougherty Valley (5-8-3), Dublin (5-5-5), Foothill (6-6-6), Livermore (3-9-3).
1) San Ramon Valley (27-1): After losing their third game of the year, the Wolves have run off 25 wins in a row. Beat Carondelet 49-47 to win the EBAL playoffs.
2) Carondelet (25-4): Cruised to the finals where the Cougars once again fell to San Ramon Valley 49-47. The Cougars had three shots to tie it or win in it in the last 10 seconds.
3) California (23-4): Stuck in a tough spot with two juggernauts in the same league. Beat Foothill 76-25, then fell in the semifinals to Carondelet 59-40.
4) Monte Vista (17-11): Beat Dublin in the first round of the playoffs but got ousted by eventual champ San Ramon Valley 66-44.
5) Dublin (16-12): The Gaels beat Amador 54-40 but were eliminated from the playoffs in a 54-43 loss to Monte Vista.
Others: Foothill (19-8), Amador (5-20), Granada (7-20), Dougherty Valley (5-18), Livermore (3-22).
1) San Ramon Valley (24-5): The Wolves got hot at the right time, beating Monte Vista 59-35, Granada 80-56, then De La Salle 68-59 to win the EBAL title.
2) De La Salle (24-4): The Spartans lost for the first time at home all season, falling 68-59 in the EBAL finals to San Ramon Valley. Take a seat at No. 2 boys.
3) Granada (22-3): The Matadors had byes to the EBAL semifinals but got hammered 80-56 by eventual champion San Ramon Valley.
4) Dublin (21-8): After beating Amador Valley and Dougherty Valley, the Gaels had De La Salle on the ropes but fell 63-59 in the semifinals.
5) Dougherty Valley (17-10): The Wildcats lost in their first EBAL playoff game, falling 64-53 to Dublin.
Others: Monte Vista (21-7), Foothill (17-11), Amador Valley (17-11), California (12-15), Livermore (7-20).
Tuesday, February 13
North Coast Section Boys’ Basketball Playoffs
(Seeds in parenthesis)
Division I
Bishop O’Dowd (1) vs, bye
Amador Valley (9) at Foothill (8), 7 p.m.
Mt. Eden (13) at Dougherty Valley (4), 7 p.m.
Deer Valley (12) at Monte Vista (5), 7 p.m.
Berkeley (2) vs. bye
Pittsburg (10) at Liberty (7), 7 p.m.
James Logan (14) at Dublin (3), 7 p.m.
College Park (11) at Campolindo (6), 7 p.m.
North Coast Section Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
Div. I
California (1) vs. bye
Clayton Valley (9) at Dublin (8), 5:30 p.m.
Alameda (4) vs. bye
Berkeley (12) at Liberty (5), 5:30 p.m.
Heritage (2) vs. bye
American (10) at James Logan (7), 7 p.m.
Salesian (3) vs. bye
Freedom (11) at Monte Vista (6), 5:30 p.m.
North Coast Section Boys’ Soccer Playoffs
D-II
Livermore (8) vs. Alameda (9), at Estuary Park, 7 p.m.
North Coast Section Girls’ Soccer Playoffs
D-II
Livermore (14) at Branson (3), 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 14
North Coast Section Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
D-II
Antioch (12) at Foothill (5), 7 p.m.
North Coast Section Boys’ Soccer Playoffs
D-I
Heritage (16) at De La Salle (1), 7 p.m.
San Ramon Valley (9) at Clayton Valley (8), 7 p.m.
Vintage (13) at Dougherty Valley (4), 7 p.m.
James Logan (12) at Bishop O’Dowd (5), 7 p.m.
Castro Valley (15) at Monte Vista (2), 7 p.m.
Granada (10) at Pittsburg (7), 7 p.m.
Amador Valley (14) at Redwood (3), 3:30 p.m.
Montgomery (11) at Berkeley (6), 7 p.m.
North Coast Section Girls’ Soccer Playoffs
D-I
San Leandro (16) at Amador Valley (1), 7 p.m.
Clayton Valley (8) vs. American (9) at Tak Fudenna Stadium (Fremont), 7 p.m.
Liberty (13) at San Ramon Valley (4), 7 p.m.
Dublin (12) at Castro Valley (5), 7 p.m.
Maria Carrillo (15) at Carondelet (2), 7 p.m.
California (10) at Heritage (7), 7 p.m.
Freedom (14) at Monte Vista (3), 5 p.m.
Foothill (11) at Berkeley (6), 5 p.m.
Thursday, February 15
North Coast Section Boys’ Basketball Playoffs
Open
Salesian (1) vs. bye
Granada (5) at San Ramon Valley (4). 7 p.m.
De La Salle (2) vs. bye
Branson (3) vs. Clayton Valley (6), at College of Marin, 7:30 p.m.
North Coast Section Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
Open
San Ramon Valley (1) vs. bye
Bishop O’Dowd (4) at Acalanes (5), 7 p.m.
Cardinal Newman (2) vs. bye
Carondelet (3) at Piedmont (6), 7 p.m.
Friday, February 16
North Coast Section Boys’ Basketball Playoffs
Amador-Foothill winner at Bishop O’Dowd, tba.
Dougherty-Mt. Eden winner vs. Deer Valley-Monte Vista winner, tba.
Liberty-Pittsburg winner at Berkeley, tba
James Logan-Dublin winner vs. Campolindo-College Park winner, tba
North Coast Section Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
D-I
Dublin-Clayton winner at California, tba
Liberty-Berkeley winner at Alameda, tba
James Logan-American winner at Heritage, tba
Monte Vista-Freedom winner at Salesian, tba
North Coast Section Boys’ Soccer Playoffs
D-II
Livermore-Alameda winner at Newark (1), tba.
North Coast Section Girls’ Soccer Playoffs
D-II
Livermore-Branson winner at Ukiah-Northgate winner, tba
Saturday, February 17
North Coast Section Girls’ Basketball Playoffs
D-II
Foothill-Antioch winner vs. Moreau (4)-Hayward (13), tba
North Coast Section Boys’ Soccer Playoffs
D-I
De La Salle-Heritage winner vs. Clayton-San Ramon Valley winner, tba
Dougherty-Vintage winner vs. O’Dowd-Logan winner, tba
Monte Vista-Castro Valley winner vs. Pittsburg-Granada winner, tba
Amador-Redwood winner vs. Berkeley-Montgomery winner, tba
North Coast Section Girls’ Soccer Playoffs
D-I
Amador-San Leandro winner vs. Clayton-American winner, tba
San Ramon Valley-Liberty winner vs. Castro Valley-Dublin winner, tba
Carondelet-Maria Carrillo winner vs. Heritage-California winner, tba
Monte Vista-Freedom winner vs. Berkeley-Foothill winner, tba
Pleasanton Preps: Big results as EBAL soccer regular season winds down
The Amador girls’ soccer team won a pair of games to claim the EBAL regular season title. On the boys’ side, the Dons earned several wins up and down the chain, including two for the freshman team.
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 (School): Sydney Head (Amador Valley)
Nickname: Syd
Sport: Soccer
Year in school: Senior (2024)
Favorite late-night food: Frozen yogurt
What are you watching on Netflix: “Captains of the World”
Who is a must follow on social media: @beaverswsoccer
Go-to hype song: “Dreams and Nightmares” (Meek Mill)
Favorite quote: “Pressure is a privilege” (Billie Jean King, American tennis icon)
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
Be a Sport!
There are many ways to get involved and get the word out about local athletes and teams!
Send photos of your athlete! to sports@pleasantonweekly.com and get a $10 Amazon gift card.
Post game scores, highlights and photos to acknowledge the hard work of your team and athletes here.
When and where will games, meets and matches be? Tell interested community members here.
Have questions? Email sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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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