Dons can't upset San Mateo

San Mateo is now 4-0 in league play (12-5 overall) and displayed an athleticism and physical superiority that bodes well for the remainder of the season. Yuve Hightower, the Cats' dominating presence inside at six feet six inches tall, cleared a team-leading seven rebounds and put several back up over shorter defenders on his way to a 10-point effort.

The Bearcats could not put the Dons away in the second half after twice going up by eight points. San Mateo led 19-17 at halftime and came out gunning in the third quarter, with Hightower scoring four points and Antwan Bowens following with a steal and breakaway lay-up to make it 25-17.

But the resilient Dons (1-3, 4-11) fought back with a coast-to-coast lay-up by Manase Tonga -- who scored seven and led Aragon with seven rebounds -- and a three-pointer by Reid Mosman, who had 12 points. Holton came off a screen seconds later to make a three of his own, bringing the Knights within two, 25-27.

San Mateo regained the margin in part by adjusting to the Dons' defensive strategy. After receiving the ball on the inside, Hightower was immediately double-covered, and instead of trying to go against it, he retreated outside and passed to a wide-open Shawn Sapoaga under the basket. Sapoaga scored again quickly inside on his way to 13 for the night.

The Dons were on the ropes again, down 38-46 following a three-point play by Leonard Johnson, who was fouled while making a shot under the basket. But with just over two minutes to go, Tonga drove the baseline and went right at Hightower under the basket, ignoring a height difference of at least six inches to score the basket. Mosman, the team's most consistent scorer, then hit a three to bring the gap to three, 46-43.

The Bearcats had been on the verge of breaking the game open for much of the half, however, and they finally overwhelmed the younger, less-experienced Dons. The 'Cats possessed a height advantage at every position on the floor, and finally put those gangly limbs to good use, stealing the ball almost at will and breaking the other way for scores.

With the score 48-43, the 'Cats effectively put the game away when Hightower blocked a shot and Chris Kwan picked up the loose ball, dribbled behind his back to avoid a defender, pushed it up the floor, and bounced a pass across the key to Aaron Anderson for a lay-up. After that, the Knights surrendered several steals and finally gave way to the favored team to make the game appear more lopsided than it was.

"They spread the court on us and we just couldn't stop them," lamented San Mateo Head Coach Steve Asp. "But I know [my players] can play better defense, and if they want to be a quality, playoff-caliber team, they'll have to."

If the 'Cats do make it to the playoffs, they may be without twin brothers Peter and Siliva Talivakaola, who are currently under suspension from the team for an unclear role in an on-court skirmish several weeks ago. Asp stated that the school had yet to make a decision concerning the players' status on the team.

Fine performances for the San Mateo bench, which is a fathom deeper than anything else in the PAL-South, included Anderson with 10 points, Johnson with nine and Rashad Bowers with six.

Aragon Head Coach Rick Hanson had hoped that his players could shock the Bearcats, saying afterwards, "We didn't go out there tonight to stay close. We went out there to win. But they are one of the top teams in the county, and I'm proud of the way we played against them."

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