NCS Sophomore of the Year
ROBBY BEASLEY, DUBLIN
It’s already hard to imagine with Robby Beasley might be capable of as an encore to this past season. The Dublin sophomore was not only named Most Valuable Player of the East Bay Athletic League, but led the Gaels to a 21-game winning streak, a perfect 13-0 record in league play, and into the semifinals of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Beasley averaged 21 points per game this past year, scoring in double figures in 31 of Dublin’s 32 games. He scored 18 or more points in each of the last six games, topped the 20-point mark on 18 occasions, and scored over 30 points in three different games. Each of his largest outputs also came in key games, scoring a season-high 34 points in a January win over Amador Valley, 33 points in a nine-point win over Foothill, and 32 points in a heart-breaking one-point loss to Amador Valley in the EBAL championship game.
“Robby is as competitive a player as I have ever coached,” said Dublin coach Tom Costello. “He was obviously the focal point of our opponent’s defensive strategy and still managed to find a way to get the job done.”
Seemingly, the only thing which slowed Beasley down during the season was the occasional overwhelming success for the Gaels, who won 26 games, some of them by large margins. Four of Beasley’s five lowest scoring outputs came in lopsided victories for Dublin, where he simply wasn’t needed to produce large totals, and deferred to his teammates, in an opportunity for them to shine. That included 10 points in a 40-point win over Concord, 11 points in a 28-point win over Granada, 10 points in a 30-point win over Granada, and 14 points in a 45-point win over Livermore.
And yet Beasley’s sophomore campaign left the young standout, and the returners in Dublin’s program, hungry for a different finish in 2018-2019. After winning 24 of their first 27 games, the Gaels dropped three of their last five by a combined six points, including the one-point loss to Amador Valley, a two-point double overtime loss to Heritage in the section semifinals, and a three-point loss to Las Lomas in the regional quarterfinals. That left Dublin wondering what might have been, and adding some extra fuel to a motivation that already burns hot.
“Robby would be the first to tell you he still has work to do, and with his work ethic, I have no doubt he will continue to improve,” Costello added. “He is the type of kid who is never satisfied.”
For his efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to recognize Robby Beasley as our North Coast Section Sophomore of the Year.
Other players considered for this award include Campolindo’s Carter Mahaney, St. Patrick-St. Vincent’s Dishon Jackson, and Saint Mary’s Jason Roche.
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