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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 wants to give a shout out to the Livermore boys’ basketball team as the Cowboys have turned in an amazing season! Also, quick updates on the North Coast Section playoffs and wrestling tournament.
EBAL Power Rankings has a new No. 1 in girls’ soccer, with a familiar name taking the top spot back following the first week of the NCS playoffs. What to Watch has the schedule for the second week of the NCS basketball and soccer playoffs. The Fast Five is about Foothill senior baseball player George Schmitt Jr. I can’t argue about his favorite music and performer!
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
‘We did it the right way’: Magical season for Livermore boys’ basketball comes to end in NCS second round
The record may say the Livermore boys’ basketball team had its season ended with a 56-31 loss to Amador Valley in the second round of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs. But this was a season to celebrate for the Cowboys and the LHS community.
Power Rankings as of Feb. 23.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. Dougherty Valley (20-8): Wildcats open the NCS Open playoffs with an 83-79 win at Marin Catholic. They face No. 2 seed Clayton Valley in the Open semifinals on Wednesday.
2. De La Salle (22-6): Spartans beat Moreau Catholic 71-68 in the first round of the Open playoffs. Play at top-seeded Salesian on Wednesday.
3. Amador Valley (18-11): Dons charge into the D-I semifinals after beating Redwood (70-44) and Livermore (56-31). They host Granada Tuesday night for a spot in the finals.
4. Granada (20-7): Matadors knock off Campolindo 62-51, then Monte Vista 64-62 to roll into the D-I semifinals where they will play Amador Valley.
5. Dublin (19-9): Gaels opened the D-I playoffs with a 70-64 win over Berkeley but then fell 66-55 to Liberty in the second round.
Others: Livermore (19-10), Monte Vista (17-12), California (14-13), San Ramon Valley (11-15), Foothill (12-14).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (24-3): Did not play last week. Plays host to Clayton Valley Wednesday night in the NCS Open semifinals.
2. Carondelet (22-5): Did not play last week. Host Piedmont on Wednesday night in the Open semifinals.
3. Dublin (21-8): Gaels got a 53-38 win over College Park in the D-I first round but then dropped a tough 40-38 game to Heritage in the second round.
4. California (17-11): Lost in the first round of the D-I playoffs, falling 54-45 to Pinole Valley.
5. Dougherty Valley (19-8): Wildcats fell in the first round of the D-I playoffs, losing to Maria Carrillo 45-40.
Others: Monte Vista (12-13), Amador Valley (11-14), Granada (9-17), Foothill (9-16), Livermore (11-16).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. Monte Vista (15-2-3): Mustangs travel to Napa to take on Vintage in the NCS Open semifinals and come away with a 2-0 win. Face Clayton Valley in the finals.
2. San Ramon Valley (14-4-5): Wolves get a pair of wins beating Mt. Eden 3-0, then Tamalpais 3-2 to advance to the D-I semifinals.
3. De La Salle (14-5-1): Spartans dropped their first game in the Open division, falling 2-1 to top-seeded Clayton Valley.
4. Amador Valley (12-8): Dons made the NCS tournament but dropped a 3-0 game at Tamalpais.
5. Granada (11-6-2): Matadors beat Campolindo (3-0) and Sonoma Valley (6-0) to cruise into the D-II semifinals
Others: Livermore (12-8), Dublin (10-9-2), Foothill (8-7-3), Dougherty Valley (4-12-1), California (1-15-5).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Carondelet (15-2-3): Cougars advance to the NCS Open championship game with a 1-0 win over Cardinal Newman. They play Bishop O’Dowd in the finals.
2. Amador Valley (8-2-3): Dons fall 2-0 in the Open semifinals at top-seeded Bishop O’Dowd.
3. San Ramon Valley (11-3-2): Wolves beat Castro Valley 3-0, then Berkeley 1-0 to advance to the D-I semifinals. Hit the road to Ukiah for the Wednesday semi.
4. California (12-6-1): Grizzlies drop a 2-1 game to Northgate in the first round of the D-I playoffs.
5. Granada (14-4-2): Matadors drop a 2-1 match to Clayton Valley in the first round of D-I playoffs.
Others: Monte Vista (8-6-3), Foothill (4-7-1), Dublin (3-11-2), Livermore (8-10-3), Dougherty Valley (2-12-1).
Today (Feb. 24) – NCS boys’ basketball D-I semifinals: Liberty (4) at Bishop O’Dowd (1), 7 p.m. Granada (3) at Amador Valley (2), 7 p.m. NCS boys’ soccer D-II semifinals: Castro Valley (5) at University (1), 3:30 p.m. Granada (3) at Richmond (2), 7 p.m. NCS girls’ soccer D-III semifinals: Alhambra (4) at Marin Catholic (1), 3:30 p.m. Livermore (6) at Analy (2), 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (Feb. 25) – NCS girls’ basketball Open semifinals: Clayton Valley (4) at San Ramon Valley (1), 7 p.m. Piedmont (3) at Carondelet (2), 7 p.m. NCS boys’ basketball Open semifinals: De La Salle (4) at Salesian (1), 7 p.m. Dougherty Valley (6) at Clayton Valley (2), 7 p.m. NCS boys’ soccer D-I semifinals: Albany (4) at Berkeley (1), 7 p.m. Analy (6) at San Ramon Valley (2), 7 p.m. NCS girls’ soccer D-I semifinals: Liberty (12) at Las Lomas (1). 7 p.m. San Ramon Valley (3) at Ukiah (2), 7 p.m.
Friday (Feb. 27) – NCS Soccer Championships TBD. NCS Basketball Championships TBD.
Saturday (Feb. 28) – NCS Boys’ Soccer Open Championship: Monte Vista (2) at Clayton Valley (1), 7 p.m. NCS Girls’ Soccer Open Championship: Carondelet (2) at Bishop O’Dowd (1), 7 p.m.
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Pleasanton Preps: Amador boys and girls ready for NCS soccer tournaments
Dons win girls’ EBAL championship in nine-round penalty shootout over Carondelet; boys soccer heads to NCS seeded 10th in Division I tournament.
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: George Schmitt Jr.
School and grade: Foothill (senior)
Sport: Baseball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Stranger Things”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: Country / Cody Johnson
Who is a must-follow on social media: Joe Rauth (Instagram/TikTok)
Favorite fast-food restaurant / meal: Chipotle / white rice, black beans, chicken, Pico, cheese, lettuce.
Favorite quote: “One percent better every day.” (James Clear, writer)
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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