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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 second week of EBAL action in both soccer and basketball and also lets you know of a special fundraising event taking place at three high schools, a local church and a middle school.
EBAL Power Rankings have little movement, except in boys’ soccer. Check out who is sitting where right now. What to Watch features the EBAL slate of games this week in both soccer and basketball. The Fast Five visits with Carly Stern of the San Ramon Valley girls’ basketball team. Check out her favorite quote – it’s all about hard work in 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
New Year, New Gear Drive in Tri-Valley this month
One of the group’s biggest events takes place over the next couple of weeks with the sixth annual New Year, New Gear Drive, which seeks to collect clothing and shoes; athletic equipment; bags, hats and gloves.
Power Rankings as of Jan. 18.
EBAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. De La Salle (17-2, 3-0): The Spartans win a pair of tough ones, beating Dougherty Valley and Dublin to get out to the 3-0 start.
2. Dougherty Valley (14-6, 2-1): Falls to De La Salle by nine points, then comes back to hang a 23-point win on Livermore.
3. Monte Vista (14-6, 3-0): The Mustangs come out of the gate with wins over Granada, California and Foothill to stand 3-0.
4. Livermore (14-5, 1-2): The Cowboys get a dose of reality, falling to San Ramon Valley and Dougherty Valley. The Cowboys will try to get well playing Foothill and California this week.
5. Amador Valley (13-7, 2-1): The Dons recover from their two-game losing streak to beat Granada and San Ramon Valley, then pull off a big non-league win over a strong Liberty squad.
Others: Dublin (14-6, 1-2), California (10-10, 1-2), Granada (14-5, 1-2), Foothill (11-7, 0-3), San Ramon Valley (8-12, 1-2).
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (15-3, 4-0): The Wolves stay unbeaten in league with wins over Livermore and Amador, then drop a 73-72 game to Mission Hills of San Marcos in a showcase.
2. Carondelet (14-4, 4-1): The Cougars beat Emerald Ridge of Washington to win their first game of the Puget Sound MLK Showcase.
3. Dublin (11-4, 2-2): The Gaels have won six games straight, punctuating it with a 64-46 win over Saint Mary’s in an MLK Showcase.
4. Dougherty Valley (14-3, 2-1): The Wildcats saw their three-game win streak come to an end with a 57-51 loss to Alameda in a showcase.
5. California (11-6, 2-1): The Grizzlies took out Monte Vista and Granada last week, recovering from their opening night loss to Dublin.
Others: Monte Vista (10-7, 2-1), Granada (7-13, 0-3), Amador Valley (8-8, 2-1), Foothill (7-10, 0-4), Livermore (9-11, 0-4).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. San Ramon Valley (8-3-3, 3-0): The Wolves opened the week beating Livermore, then ended the week with a big 2-1 win over Amador.
2. De La Salle (7-2-1, 2-1): After dropping their EBAL opener, the Spartans charged back last week, beating Dougherty Valley (2-0) and Dublin (1-0).
3. Monte Vista (8-1-2, 3-0): The Mustangs take out California 8-1, then end the week with a 3-1 win over Foothill.
4. Granada (8-2-1, 2-1): The Matadors hand a 2-1 loss on Amador and follow up with a 3-2 win over California.
5. Amador Valley (8-3, 1-2): After starting so quickly, the Don came back to earth last week, losing to Granada (2-1) and San Ramon Valley (2-1). The Dons host De La Salle on Tuesday night.
Others: Granada (6-2-1, 0-1), Dublin (8-3-2, 2-1), Foothill (6-2-1, 1-2), Livermore (8-5, 1-2), Dougherty Valley (2-8-1, 0-3), California (0-8-5, 0-3).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. California (8-1, 3-0): The Grizzlies dropped a 1-0 non-league game to Logan but came back in league and beat Monte Vista 3-1, then Granada 1-0.
2. Carondelet (7-1-3, 3-0): The Cougars cruise in a pair of games, beating Dougherty Valley 7-0, then Dublin 2-0.
3. Amador Valley (2-0-2, 2-0-1): The Dons beat Granada 2-1, then close the week with a 0-0 draw with San Ramon Valley.
4. San Ramon Valley (5-1-1, 1-1-1): The Wolves dump Livermore 7-1, then end the week with a 0-0 draw with Amador Valley.
5. Granada (8-2-1, 1-2): Tough week for the Mats losing to Amador Valley (2-1) and California 1-0.
Others: Monte Vista (4-2-3, 1-2), Foothill (3-2-1, 2-1), Dublin (3-6-1, 0-3), Livermore (5-5-3, 0-2-1), Dougherty Valley (0-7-1, 0-2-1).
Today (Jan. 20)
EBAL girls’ basketball: Carondelet at Amador Valley, Dougherty Valley at Granada, California at San Ramon Valley, Livermore at Foothill, Monte Vista at Dublin, all 7:30 p.m.
EBAL boys’ basketball: Amador Valley at De La Salle, California at San Ramon Valley, Dublin at Monte Vista, Foothill at Livermore, Granada at Dougherty Valley, all 7:30 p.m.
EBAL girls’ soccer: Amador Valley at De La Salle, California at San Ramon Valley, Dublin at Monte Vista, Foothill at Livermore, Granada at Dougherty Valley, all 6:30 p.m.
EBAL boys’ soccer: De La Salle at Amador Valley, Dougherty Valley at Granada, California at San Ramon Valley, Livermore at Foothill, Monte Vista at Dublin, all 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (Jan. 22)
EBAL boys’ soccer: Dublin at Amador Valley, Foothill at De La Salle, Dougherty Valley at Monte Vista, California at Livermore, Granada at San Ramon Valley, all 6:30 p.m.
EBAL girls’ soccer: Amador Valley at Dublin, Carondelet at Foothill, San Ramon Valley at Granada, Livermore at California, Monte Vista at Dougherty Valley, all 6:30 p.m.
Friday (Jan. 23)
EBAL boys’ basketball: Amador Valley at Dublin, De La Salle at Foothill, San Ramon Valley at Granada, Livermore at California, Monte Vista at Dougherty Valley, all 7:30 p.m.
EBAL girls’ basketball: Dublin at Amador Valley, Dougherty Valley at Monte Vista, California at Livermore, Granada at San Ramon Valley, all 7:30 p.m.
Foothill alum, Giants’ star Brandon Crawford named to Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
Brandon Crawford, the decorated former San Francisco Giants’ shortstop and a Peninsula native, is one of five athletes slated for induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame this spring.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador boys open EBAL soccer season with tight win over Livermore
The Amador Valley boys’ soccer team kept its impressive run alive, opening the East Bay Athletic League season with a 2-1 win over Livermore.
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: Carly Stern
School and grade: San Ramon Valley (junior)
Sport: Basketball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: ESPN (channel) and “Breaking Bad” (show).
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: R&B/Phoebe Bridgers
Who is a must follow on social media: LeBron James (@kingjames).
Favorite fast-food restaurant and meal: Chipotle/burrito
Favorite quote: “Nothing is given – everything is earned,” (LeBron James)
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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