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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 pays tribute this week to longtime educator and Pleasanton icon Neil Sweeney, who passed away recently at 99. He was the first principal at Foothill and was responsible for guiding the North Coast Section through its formative years. Also read about how the San Ramon Valley girls’ basketball team took on some of the top teams in the country and came out strong.
EBAL Power Rankings are back with basketball and soccer heading into the league season. Teams juggled positions during the holiday break in all the polls! What to Watch gives you the schedules for the first round of EBAL games with soccer starting Thursday and basketball on Friday.
The Fast Five returns from the break by letting you get to know Foothill girls’ basketball player Sophie Nguyen! Got to love her favorite quote – simple yet the perfect perspective to get through life.
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
Neil Sweeney was a major part of the fabric of sports, education and life in Pleasanton
“I cannot think of once when I didn’t feel better about life when talking with Neil. I looked forward to hearing Neil’s thoughts on everything I wrote and was honored that he took the time to read my stories.”
Power Rankings as of Jan. 4.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. De La Salle (12-3): The Spartans roll into the EBAL season as the team to beat in the always-loaded league.
2. Dublin (12-4): The Gaels lost two of their last three games but beat Valley Christian-San Jose 63-61 to end the break on a positive note.
3. Dougherty Valley (11-5): The Wildcats dropped two of their last three during the break, but the losses came to Thousand Oaks and Bellarmine, two strong programs.
4. Granada (12-3): The Mats only lost one game during the break and that was a 63-62 final to St. Mary’s of Albany.
5. Amador Valley (10-5): The Dons are back in the top five with a good holiday break, including a 3-1 mark in the Modesto Christian Holiday Classic.
Others: California (9-7), Foothill (10-3), Livermore (13-2), Monte Vista (9-6), San Ramon Valley (7-9).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (11-2, 1-0): The Wolves were in the top division of the Nike TOC in Arizona and go 4-1, losing only 51-40 to Bishop McNamara, the eventual tournament champ. Monster game at Carondelet on Friday night.
2. Carondelet (13-2, 4-0): The Cougars took on Ontario Christian, the top-ranked team in the nation, and fell 100-49. Massive showdown with San Ramon Valley on Friday night.
3. California (9-5): The Grizzlies would be the best team in a lot of other leagues, but here in the EBAL they are No. 3. A good team stuck in the best league.
4. Dublin (9-4, 0-2): The Gaels have won three of their last four games, dropping only a 59-57 game to a very good Acalanes team.
5. Dougherty Valley (9-2, 0-1): The Wildcats end the break winning three straight games.
Others: Monte Vista (7-5), Granada (6-9), Amador Valley (6-7), Foothill (6-7, 0-1), Livermore (7-7, 0-1).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. De La Salle (5-1-1): The Spartans were 1-1-1 in their last three games, but those came against strong, non-EBAL teams. The loss was 2-1 to Brophy College Prep from Arizona.
2. Amador Valley (7-1): The Dons have won six straight games and have only allowed two goals in that stretch.
3. Granada (6-1-1): The Matadors lone loss was 3-2 to Richmond, always a tough program.
4. Foothill (4-0-1): The Falcons have not played the toughest schedule but also have not lost, so they are taking care of business.
5. Monte Vista (4-1-2): The Mustangs stay in the top five for now with a win and a pair of ties in their last three games.
Others: Dublin (5-2-2), San Ramon Valley (4-2-3), Livermore (6-3), Dougherty Valley (2-4-1), California (0-5-3).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Carondelet (4-0-3): The Cougars head down to Texas for the break and go 1-0-2 in the loaded tournament. The team to beat as of now.
2. California (4-0): The Grizzlies have only allowed two goals in their four games played. We’ll see how things shake out in league.
3. Granada (5-0-1): The Matadors gave up two goals in their first game but then threw four doughnuts on the board as the defense is stepping up.
4. San Ramon Valley (4-0): Four games and the SRV defense has yet to allow a goal. Now on to the brutally tough EBAL.
5. Amador Valley (0-0-1): The Dons have history of being a contender when EBAL play starts.
Others: Monte Vista (2-0-3), Dublin (3-2-1), Livermore (4-3-2), Foothill (1-0-1), Dougherty Valley (0-4).
Today (Jan. 6) – Girls’ basketball: Redwood at San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m. Girls’ soccer: College Park at Dublin, El Cerrito at Livermore, 6 p.m.
Tomorrow (Jan. 7) – Girls’ basketball: Dougherty Valley at Berkeley 6:30 p.m., Pittsburg at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
Thursday (Jan. 8) – EBAL boys’ soccer: Livermore at Amador Valley, California at Dublin, San Ramon Valley at De La Salle, Foothill at Dougherty Valley, Monte Vista at Granada, all 6:30 p.m. EBAL girls’ soccer: Amador at Livermore, Dublin at California, Carondelet at San Ramon Valley, Dougherty Valley at Foothill, Granada at Monte Vista, all 6:30 p.m.
Friday (Jan. 9) – EBAL girls’ basketball: Livermore at Amador Valley, California at Dublin, San Ramon Valley at Carondelet, Foothill at Dougherty Valley, Monte Vista at Granada, all 7:30 p.m. EBAL boys’ basketball: Amador Valley at Livermore, Dublin at California, Dougherty Valley at Foothill, De La Salle at San Ramon Valley, Granada at Monte Vista, all 7:30 p.m.
Saturday (Jan. 10) – Girls’ soccer: James Logan at California, 12 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador boys ready for start of EBAL soccer action
The Amador Valley boys’ soccer team ended the year with a pair of wins and will head into the start of the East Bay Athletic League after the first of the year with a 6-1 record.
Dublin High coach reflects on run-in with cancer
A cancer diagnosis. A major surgery. An ongoing recovery. Chris Williams, longtime head coach of cross country as well as track and field at Dublin High School, recounts many prayers and an outpouring of community support over the course of his health battle this year.
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: Sophie Nguyen
School and grade: Foothill (senior)
Sport: Basketball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Breaking Bad”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: Hip-hop / Mike Sherm
Who is a must follow on social media: LeBron James (@kingjames)
Favorite fast-food restaurant and meal: Chick-fil-A / nuggets
Favorite quote: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)
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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