Last season, the boys basketball team (15-10 overall, 8-4 Peninsula Athletic League) were knocked out of CCS in the quarterfinals. This season, the Dons reached the same spot they were at last season in the CCS quarterfinals on Feb. 24. However, it would be a different result, as the Dons blew out Leland (14-12 overall, 7-7 Blossom Valley Athletic League) 58-39.
“I feel good for my boys,” said head coach Hosea Patton. “They played their hearts out.”
The Dons defense shut down Leland throughout the game, as they held the Chargers to under 40 points, the lowest amount a team has scored in CCS Division II this season. It was the first time this season the Dons held any opponent under the 40-point mark.
“Our defense is the focal point of our team,” Patton said. “When we play defense, we’re able to get out and go and it leads to our offense, so they know it is our focal point and have taken a sense of pride in our defense.”
Additionally, the Dons were able to come away from the victory through their accurate shooting. Senior Davion Cox led the team with 14 points, going 7 for 8 from the field, while fellow senior Tommy Cheang had 8 points, going 3 for 7 from the field and 2 for 6 from three.
“Whenever [Leland] would sag off and not contest a shot, Coach knows I have the green light,” Cheang said. “I just let the ball go with confidence.”
At the end of the game, Patton was able to put in and clear out much of his bench.
“They come to practice everyday,” Patton said. “That is our goal, that if we get a big enough lead, we were gonna play as many kids as we can.”
However, the Dons had 15 turnovers throughout the game, only eight of which came in the first half.
“A lot of careless turnovers, unforced turnovers, Those are the ones that drive me crazy,” Patton said. “That’s something we always tell them — to value the ball on each possession — but it is a fast game and it happens.”
Up next, the Dons will take on Leigh (14-11 overall, 11-3 Blossom Valley Athletic League), the team that knocked them out of CCS last year, in the CCS Semifinals on Feb. 27.
“We’re looking to beat them because that’s the team that beat us last year and we felt like we deserved to win,” Cheang said. “I feel like next game, we’re gonna give it all we got and we’re looking to win this one.”
