Dons can’t keep pace vs. Valley Christian in CCS DII hoops finals

A 19-2 run bridging the first two quarters set the tone as the top-seeded Warriors reinforced the WCAL’s status as the top league in the region. Their last-place league finish was a product of the league’s strength. With 6-foot-9 junior Jay Allen-Tovar and 6-7 senior Cameron Fini in the middle, scoring on Valley Christian (14-13) was all but impossible for Aragon.

The Dons scored exactly nine points in every quarter and, outside of brief moments at the start of the third quarter, spent the entire second half looking at a double-digit deficit.

“It’s disappointing, of course,” Aragon head coach Hosea Patton said, “but I’m happy that our guys got here.”

The start of each half was certainly the best for Aragon (16-11). Three early 3-pointers gave the Dons a 9-7 lead, but they wouldn’t score again in the opening quarter, finally improving their end of the scoreboard on a steal in the backcourt and layup by Donoven Robinson early in the second to cut the lead to 22-11.

A Sam Manu put-back had the Dons within 11 at the halftime break, and they trailed just 29-22 after opening the third quarter with baskets by Gabe Lukaszewicz and Davion Cox. Allen-Tovar quickly took momentum back for the Warriors with a ferocious dunk, but Aragon would climb within seven shortly thereafter on a Robinson 3.

It was the last time the Dons would be within striking distance.

Valley Christian restored a nine-point lead on an alley-oop from Fini to Allen-Tovar and closed the quarter on a 10-0 run. The Warriors scored the first four points of the third to stretch the lead to 48-27 and led by as much as 25 down the stretch, emptying the bench en route to their first section title since 2005.

Though Aragon did keep the explosive Valley Christian offense under 60, it would have taken a Herculean defensive effort to compensate for the 24 percent performance from the field. Alton Julian scored a game-high 23 for the Warriors, including 14 of his team’s 17 in the first quarter. Justin Kidd added 10, while Allen-Tovar had 10 points and 20 rebounds, with 10 apiece on the offensive and defensive glass.

The trio outscored the entire Dons roster. No Aragon player scored more than Manu’s eight. The 6-4 junior also had eight rebounds, as did Lukaszewicz. Robinson scored seven.

Getting there at all looked bleak when Aragon started Peninsula Athletic League South Division play 1-4, including losses to Woodside and San Mateo, but a healthy Manu was critical as the Dons rattled off seven straight wins to finish the regular season, starting with a victory over Menlo-Atherton. They also evened the season series with San Mateo and Mills during that stretch.

Much of the Dons’ hope for next year will center around Manu, who moved back to San Mateo from Taiwan this year. He’ll be the only returning starter, but Noah Salah provided solid minutes off the bench and sophomore Matthew Mukai stepped up early in the season when injuries struck.

Lights go out on Lady Dons

In the same Aragon-Valley Christian matchup in the CCS Division II girls’ championship game, a change of venue helped the Lady Dons improve but not overcome the bracket’s top seed.

Aragon (16-10) fell 69-62 in a quest for the program’s first-ever CCS title. The game started at Independence High School, but a power outage at halftime forced the game to be moved to neighboring Piedmont Hills.

No. 1 seed Valley Christian (13-13) took a substantial 35-21 lead into halftime. The No. 3 Dons outscored the Warriors in each of the final two quarters and totaled 41 points in the half.

Nor Cal woes

Despite both the Aragon boys’ and girls’ teams reaching the CCS finals, neither were selected to represent in the CIF Northern California Division II playoffs. Traditionally, both finalists from each CCS bracket advance to Nor Cal. But now, with CCS Open Division teams guaranteed advancement to Nor Cals, those teams receive priority in their original divisions, forcing many CCS runner-up teams out of the fray.