Final: San Ramon Valley 68, De La Salle 59 — East Bay Athletic League playoff championship live update summary
They had lost six straight to De La Salle, including a 60-58 stinger just 10 days ago. They'd lost 18 of 19 to the Spartans, 24 of 26 and fell behind 17-4 early Saturday before a loud and raucous home DLS crowd.
But the Wolves of San Ramon Valley is a resilient bunch. Confident, balanced, skilled and battle-tested.
They also had a point to prove. They appeared on a mission.
They took control with a 24-8 run in the second quarter and behind 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists by fourth-year player Seamus Deeley, the Wolves ended a lot of droughts against the Spartans with a resounding 68-59 victory in the East Bay Athletic League playoff finals.
The Wolves had pulled a similar road show performance two days earlier defeating Granada 80-56 in Livermore, a team it had lost to by the same score 60-58 during the regular season.
On Saturday, Deeley was superb through all four quarters while different Wolves dominated in three different quarters. Mason Thomas scored eight of his 15 in the second quarter, including a big 3-pointer at the buzzer heading into half. Luke Isaak, who scored 25 against Granada on Thursday, was heled scoreless in the first half but scored eight of his 11 in the third quarter.
San Ramon Valley team photo after a big win earlier this season.
Courtesy photo: San Ramon Valley athletics
Then Matthew Diekman, who had just two points through three quarters, exploded for 10 of his 12 in the fourth, including a key four-point play to vault the Wolves (24-5) into next week's North Coast Section Open Division playoffs, likely as the No. 2 seed.
The Wolves toughness and determination was demonstrated down low, where it held a 32-17 edge in rebounds. That's an area De La Salle largely dominates.
De La Salle, which came out roaring, got another big effort from Alec Blair (19 points) and David Balogun (14 off the bench), but the Spartans (24-4) had their 17-game home win streak snapped and an 11-game win streak ended as well. Leo Ricketts added 12.
The Spartans came in ranked 17th in the state. San Ramon Valley had been ranked as high as ninth after winning the gold division of the Damien Classic for a second straight year. But the pair of losses to San Ramon Valley and Granada knocked them out of the state rankings.
All three of those EBAL teams will surely be selected into the EBAL Open field which will be announced Sunday.
Now they the Wolves avenged those — convincingly so — they'll be back in this week.
Fourth quarter
San Ramon Valley 68, De La Salle 59: The visiting Wolves would not be denied to end De La Salle's 17-game home winning streak. The Spartans had won the previous six meetings between the teams, 18 of 19 and 24 of 26.
San Ramon Valley 65, De La Salle 57: This one looks over. Thomas has hit free throw. 40.8 4Q.
SRV 64, DLS 55: SRV has had new guy each quarter taking over. The fourth belongs to Matthew Diekman with his third and fourth buckets of the fourth. SRV in complete command now, up 64-55 with 2:17 remaining.
SRV 59, DLS 51: Deeley always seems to have an answer. He puts up tough interior bucket after making great save on the baseline. San Ramon Valley leads 59-51, 4:02 4Q.
SRV 55, DLS 47: After De La Salle closes to two, two free throws by Isaak and a four-point play by Matthew Diekmann gives SRV a 55-47. Blair and Kiekmann exchange buckets, making it 57-51.
Luke Isaak (24), San Ramon Valley, at the Damien Classic.
File photo: Heston Quan
Third quarter
SRV 49, DLS 45: Balogun again. Tough inside bucket while fouled. His free throw cuts SRV's lead to 49-43. 1:04 3Q. Two free throws by Leo Ricketts, cuts San Ramon Valley's lead to 49-45 entering the fourth quarter.
SRV 47, DLS 41: Balogun continues to control the paiint with a tough left-hand layup, cuts SRV's lead to 47-41.
SRV 47, DLS 36: Luke Isaak continues to sizzle with a 3, San Ramon Valley takes a 47-36 lead.
SRV 42, DLS 31: More of the same to start the third quarter as Wolves start on 12-7 run, with now leading score Luke Isaak, the Wolves' leading scorer who went scoreless the first half, now heats up. He scores quick five to go up 42-31.
* Alec Blair heating up for Spartans but no one else helping out. He's scored all nine points before Leo Ricketts drills a 3.
Seamus Deeley (15), shown here at the Damien Classic championship game vs. Dixie (Utah), was everywhere Saturday against De La Salle. The 6-5 senior would not let the Wolves wilt early when they fell behind 17-4.
File photo: Heston Quan
Second quarter
SRV 32, DLS 27: Mason Thomas drills a 3-point finishing off a spectacular second quarter. San Ramon Valley outscored De La Salle 24-8 to take a 32-27 lead.
SRV 29, DLS 27: Seamus Deeley takes over in the second quarter, with a 3-pointer, an inside bucket, two free throws, four free throws and a nice assist to Elliot Conley. SRV now leads 29-27.
DLS 27, SRV 24: David Balogun, who came off the bench Thursday to score 18 points, picks off where he let off. He's scored all four buckets for the Spartans in the second quarter.
First quarter
DLS 19, SRV 8: Seamus Deeley with a driving layup and putback helps SRV to close the gap to nine heading into the second quarter.
De La Salle 17, San Ramon Valley 4: De La Salle starts on fire as Ibrahim Monawar, Leo Ricketts and Arshawn Salkhi hit 3s en route to a 17-4 lead. SRV remains calm even with tough start.
