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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 takes a quick look at the EBAL playoffs in basketball and soccer, then looks at the upcoming NCS playoffs.
EBAL Power Rankings have a new No. 1 in boys’ basketball and girls’ soccer. What to Watch has the schedule for the first week of the North Coast Section playoffs in basketball and soccer, as well as the where and when for the NCS Wrestling meet. Fast Five is taking a week off!
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
Dougherty Valley boys beat top-seeded De La Salle to win EBAL basketball title
Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen got his wish – a ticket to the EBAL dance – and saw his team make the most of it.
Power Rankings as of Feb. 16.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. Dougherty Valley (20-8): The Wildcats got by Amador Valley 76-67 in overtime, then took down De La Salle in the championship game.
2. De La Salle (22-6): The Spartans beat Monte Vista then fell 70-59 to Dougherty Valley in the EBAL playoff championship.
3. Amador Valley (16-11): The Dons made it to the EBAL playoffs but dropped a tough 76-67 overtime loss to eventual champion Dougherty Valley.
4. Dublin (18-8): Did not play last week.
5. Monte Vista (16-11): The Mustangs got into the EBAL playoffs, then fell in the semifinals 52-44.
Others: California (14-12), Granada (18-7), San Ramon Valley (11-15), Livermore (17-9), Foothill (12-14).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (24-3): The Wolves were machine-like in their 70-49 win over Carondelet, the worst loss in the EBAL I have seen Carondelet suffer.
2. Carondelet (22-5): The Cougars took out Dublin 72-27 in the first round of the playoffs, then were handed a 70-49 loss to San Ramon Valley in the title game.
3. Dublin (20-7): The Gaels lost to Carondelet 72-27 in the first round of the playoffs.
4. California (17-10): The Grizzlies fell in the first round of the playoffs, losing 85-27 to San Ramon Valley.
5. Dougherty Valley (19-7): Did not play last week.
Others: Monte Vista (12-12), Amador Valley (11-14), Granada (9-17), Foothill (9-16), Livermore (11-16).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. Monte Vista (14-2-3): The Mustangs take the top spot after winning the EBAL playoffs, beating San Ramon Valley 3-1 in the semifinals, then De La Salle 2-0 in the title game.
2. San Ramon Valley (14-4-5): The Wolves lost 3-1 to Monte Vista in the first round of the EBAL playoffs.
3. De La Salle (14-4-1): The Spartans fall in the finals of the EBAL tournament, losing to Monte Vista 2-0.
4. Amador Valley (12-7): The Dons closed league strong to make the EBAL playoffs, then fell in the semifinals 4-1 to De La Salle.
5. Livermore (12-7): Did not play last week.
Others: Granada (9-6-2), Dublin (10-8-2), Foothill (7-6-3), Dougherty Valley (4-12-1), California (1-15-5).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Amador Valley (8-1-3): The Dons take the EBAL playoff title with a shootout win over Carondelet. When they went to kicks from the spot, the Dons prevailed 8-7.
2. Carondelet (14-2-3): After going unbeaten in league play, the Cougars beat San Ramon Valley 1-0 to advance to the finals. There, they lost in shootout to Amador.
3. San Ramon Valley (9-3-2): The Wolves fell in the EBAL semifinals, 1-0 to Carondelet, but remain a real threat to take it all in NCS.
4. California (12-5-1): The Grizzlies fell 3-0 to Amador in semifinals.
5. Granada (14-3-2): Did not play last week.
Others: Monte Vista (8-5-3), Foothill (4-7-1), Dublin (3-11-2), Livermore (6-10-3), Dougherty Valley (2-12-1).
Today (Feb. 17)
NCS Girls’ Basketball – D-I (seeds in parenthesis): Maria Carrillo (9) at Dougherty Valley (9), College Park (15) at Dublin (2), Pinole Valley (11) at California (6), all 7 p.m.
NCS Boys’ Basketball – D-I: Berkeley (12) at Dublin (5), Livermore (10) at California (7), both 5:30 p.m. Redwood (15) at Amador Valley (2), Campolindo (14) at Granada (3), Alameda (11) at Monte Vista (6), all 7 p.m.
NCS Girls’ Soccer – D-III: Saint Mary’s (11) at Livermore (6), 7 p.m.
NCS Boys’ Soccer – D-II: Foothill (14) at Terra Linda (4), 3:30 p.m. Dublin (12) at Castro Valley (5), Campolindo (14) at Granada (3), both 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (Feb. 18)
NCS Girls’ Basketball – D-II: Monte Vista (12) at Lick-Wilmerding (5), 7 p.m.
NCS Girls’ Soccer – D-I: Monte Vista (11) at Berkeley (6), Castro Valley (14) at San Ramon Valley (3), both 5 p.m. Granada (9) at Clayton Valley (8), Northgate (10) at California (7), both 7 p.m.
NCS Boys’ Soccer – D-I: Amador Valley (10) at Tamalpais (7), 3:30 p.m. Mt. Eden (15) at San Ramon Valley (2), Livermore (11) at Analy (6), both games 7 p.m.
Thursday (Feb. 19)
NCS Girls’ Basketball – Open: San Ramon Valley (1), Carondelet (2) vs. byes.
NCS Boys’ Basketball – Open: Moreau Catholic (5) at De La Salle (4), Dougherty Valley (6) at Marin Catholic (3), both 7 p.m.
Friday (Feb. 20)
NCS Girls’ Basketball – D-I Second round: Dougherty Valley-Maria Carillo winner at Redwood (1), TBD. Dublin-College Park winner vs. Heritage (7)-Windsor (10) winner, TBD. California-Pinole Valley winner vs. Arcata (3)-Campolindo (14) winner, TBD.
NCS Boys’ Basketball – D-I Second round: Dublin-Berkeley winner vs. Liberty (4)-Freedom (13) winner, TBD. Amador-Redwood winner vs. California-Livermore winner. TBD. Granada-Campolindo winner vs. Monte Vista-Alameda winner, TBD.
NCS Girls’ Soccer – D-III Second round: Livermore-Saint Mary’s winner vs. Antioch (14)-San Marin (3), TBD
NCS Boys’ Soccer – D-II Second round: Foothill-Terra Linda winner vs. Dublin-Castro Valley winner, TBD. Granada-Campolindo winner vs. Sonoma Valley (6)-Casa Grande (11) winner, TBD.
Saturday (Feb. 21)
NCS Girls’ Basketball – D-II Second round: Monte Vista-Lick Wilmerding winner vs. University (4)-Sonoma Valley (13) winner, TBD.
NCS Girls’ Soccer – Open: Amador Valley (4) at Bishop O’Dowd (1), Cardinal Newman (3) at Carondelet (2), both 7 p.m. D-I Second round: Granada-Clayton Valley winner vs. Montgomery (16)-Las Lomas (1) winner, TBD. California-Northgate winner vs. Redwood (15)-Ukiah (2) winner, TBD. San Ramon Valley-Castro Valley winner vs. Monte Vista-Berkeley winner, TBD
NCS Boys’ Soccer – Open: De La Salle (4) at Clayton Valley (1), Monte Vista (2) at Vintage (3), both 7 p.m. D-I: San Ramon Valley-Mt. Eden winner vs. Tamalpais-Amador Valley winner, TBD. Analy-Livermore winner vs. Ukiah (3)-Alameda (14) winner, TBD.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador Valley boys’ soccer gets two wins (and some help) to make first-ever EBAL playoffs
Mission accomplished as Amador got the wins, then got the help, and now the Dons find themselves in the EBAL playoffs for the first time in school history.
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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