| | Published March 26th, 2014
| Boys' Basketball Make State Title Run
| | By Michael Sakoda |  | | Luke Hoyle Photos Gint Federas |
Lamorinda's seniors were huge for their schools during an exciting stretch of games in the CIF Tournament.
Campolindo (23-8, 11-1 DFAL) advanced to the NorCal semifinals, beating Vanden 96-64 on March 15 before being ousted 72-68 by Archbishop Riordan in an overtime thriller on March 18.
Campo's offense clicked against Vanden as four players scored in double figures-seniors Justin Dunn (27 points, 7 rebounds), Luke Hoyle (16 points) and Andrew Zolintakis (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), and junior Chris Hansen (11 points, 6 rebounds, 8 blocks).
Just three days later, the shots weren't falling against Riordan. The Cougars trailed 35-41 entering the final quarter. However, Campo went on a 12-3 run, capturing a 49-44 lead with less than five minutes to play.
With four seconds left, Zolitakis was intentionally fouled while shooting a three, giving him free throws, and more importantly, giving Campo the ball. The senior went 2/3 from the line, and knocked down a shot over the hands of three Riordan defenders, sending the game into overtime.
The Cougars lost momentum in the overtime period, and Riordan edged Campo 72-68. Zolintakis was remarkable, scoring 32 of his 38 in the second half and overtime. Chris Hansen added 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks to pace the Cougars.
"This game was tough ... our worst offensive output, shooting percentage-wise, of the season," said head coach Matt Watson. "But what these guys have accomplished has been impressive ... definitely a special team."
Campo will lose eight players-Zolintakis, Dunn, Hoyle, Isaac Christian, Andrew Cassidy, Walter Brennan, Anderson Clarke and Ryan Smith-to graduation.
Miramonte (18-13, 6-6 DFAL) stole two games on the road, at Fairfield 74-70 on March 12, and at Burlingame 78-76 on March 15, advancing to the NorCal semifinals before being eliminated 70-61 at Drake a week ago.
The Mats came back from three 10-point deficits, and cut Drake's lead to 56-60 with under two minutes to play, but they never made it over the hump.
"I think we were just too worn mentally from being on the road for so long," said head coach Drew McDonald. "We played our best basketball down the stretch ... and I'm proud of the way our guys coursed out this season."
Miramonte will graduate five players, Joey Goodreault, Scott Rein, Connor Wong, Ray Clark and Drew Anderson, who averaged 31.6 points, 18.3 rebounds per game during the CIF run.
Both Anderson and Goodreault have made their mark in Miramonte school history. In the history of the basketball program, a player has only scored 31 or more points in 25 occasions. "Drew has a half dozen of those himself," said McDonald. "And Goodreault will be a leader in 3-point field goals made as well as assists."
Acalanes (17-13, 5-7 DFAL) was upended in the opening round by Christian Brothers 60-46 on March 12.
Trailing 28-22 early in the third quarter, the Dons, led by Buster Souza (15 points, 15 rebounds), went on an 8-2 run, tying the score as the period expired. But the Dons struggled to get their offense going in the fourth. They were outscored 23-9 in the final eight minutes.
"The game turned quickly," said coach, Bill Powers. "They were hungrier and we didn't match their effort."
The 17 wins Acalanes notched this year is a marked improvement from their eight wins a season ago, and Powers credits his players for the growth.
"The guys bought in to what we were trying to do," he said. "They were starving for direction ... put in the work and improved."
Acalanes graduates six players including standouts Souza and Matt Thomas as well as Kyle Kinnear, Ross Teichman, and Zack Kisner.
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 | | Ray Clark |  | | Matt Thomas | | | | | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA