MORAGA, CA - Down by 18 in the third quarter, the Clayton Valley boys' basketball team rallied back to force two overtime periods against Campolindo in DAL-Foothill action. The Cougars and Ugly Eagles traded shots in two overtime periods, until the Cougars' Carter Mahaney hit the game winning runner with two seconds left, and fans stormed the court in joy as host Campolindo tipped previously unbeaten Clayton Valley, 100-98, in double overtime on Tuesday night.
“We had a really tough loss Friday night. We knew how good [Clayton Valley] was, but we were going in it to win this game,” said Campolindo coach Steven Dyer. “It took contributions from everyone to help us win, and we stayed mentally strong throughout the entire game.”
Mahaney was the lead scorer for the Cougars with 25 points, including the game-winner, and finished the game with a double-double, adding 11 rebounds.
“We played really well as a team,” Mahaney said. “We knew they were undefeated, so we had to go into the game with an edge and play hard.”
In the final quarter, Prep2Prep NCS second-ranked Clayton Valley (18-1, 2-1 DAL-Foothill) stormed back from a 74-56 deficit with two three-pointers and a pair of pull-up jumpers from Garrett Pascoe, who led all scorers with a whopping 49 points. 13th-ranked Campolindo (14-5, 2-1) countered with shots from John Torchio, Trevin Kroichick, and Mahaney, but Pascoe hit a step-back jump shot with two seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime period, the Cougars jumped to an 88-82 lead halfway through the quarter on layups from Torchio, Kroichick, and Mahaney, but Pascoe continued his heroics for the Eagles, hitting a pair of three-point shots to tie the game up at 90 and send the game into a second overtime period.
In the second overtime period, Pascoe hit two free throws to tie the game at 98 with eight seconds left. Mahaney then dashed downcourt and banked in a runner with two seconds left to take down the previously unbeaten Ugly Eagles.
The host Cougars had a strong first half as Mahaney and David Ahazie were hot from the field, complemented by strong three-point shooting from Will Cummins and Jake Chan. All five starters for Campolindo scored in double figures, as Cummins added 24 points, Ahazie scored 15 points, Kroichick chipped in with 12 points, and Torchio used his athleticism to post a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The visiting Ugly Eagles stayed in touch with Pascoe's big night, while Zach Martinez also used his shooting to complement Pascoe's all-around game. Martinez finished with 14 points.
This Friday, Campolindo travels to Las Lomas, while Clayton Valley heads to Acalanes.
