How far can Dougherty Valley go without its leading scorer?
The good news for Dougherty ValleySan Ramon’s boys basketball team was that it made the North Coast Section’s new sixteam Open Division format, meaning the Wildcats qualify for the Northern California playoffs in two weeks.
The bad news for Dougherty Valley (225) is that it was the sixth and final seed, meaning it will open the playoffs Thursday against No. 3 seed Bishop O’DowdOakland (197) at Laney College. And the Wildcats might be without threetime AllMetro selection Robby Beasley. The Montana commit injured his knee in the first quarter Thursday and didn’t return in a 30point loss to Dublin.
The 6foot2 combo guard didn’t play in a 9073 doubleovertime loss to Dublin in the East Bay Athletic League final Saturday, either. He had an MRI exam on the knee Sunday night, but the results won’t be known until Monday, coach Mike Hansen said.
Whatever the result, he’s “most likely out for all of NCS,” Hansen said.
“I’m just so happy to be in the Open,” he said. “I still believe this team can play with anyone. And the NorCal guarantee is awesome.”
The top two finishers plus an atlarge team in Divisions 13 advance to the NorCal playoffs; the top four teams (semifinals) in Divisions 46 move on.
The top two Open boys seeds were No. 1 Dublin (225) and No. 2 Salesian-Richmond (235). The Gaels beat Salesian in the finals of the Gridley tournament Dec. 14.
The other firstround Open game Thursday is No. 5 San Leandro (197) at No. 4 CampolindoMoraga (215), the defending state Division II champ.
De La SalleConcord (197) didn’t make the Open Division, but earned the No. 1 seed in Division 1 and a firstround bye. Another EBAL squad, GranadaLivermore (205) is the No. 2 seed.
The EBAL’s San Ramon ValleyDanville (188), is the No. 1 seed in D2. Other top boys seeds are BransonRoss (D3, 262), Piedmont (D4, 215), Stuart Hall (D5, 197) and St. Bernard’s-Eureka (D6, 148).
There were no surprises from the girls teams picked in the Open Division squads; however, St. Joseph Notre Dame (217) getting the No. 1 seed was a bit of a surprise.
The top seed was based on a 6860 win over No. 2 seed Salesian (253) on Jan. 11. But the Pilots have lost four games since then, including a forfeit during a headcoaching change. The other three losses were to national powers.
Salesian, meanwhile, went 131 since that loss, fallng 7151 to La Jolla Country Day, a team that beat St. Joseph 7143.
The other Open Division girls games Thursday are No. 4 Miramonte-Orinda (224) against No. 5 Bishop O’Dowd (186) at Laney and sixthseeded HeritageBrentwood (215) at No. 3 Cardinal NewmanSanta Rosa (262).