DANVILLE – Monte Vista middle Gavin McMillan is a throwback participant.
At 6-foot-9, McMillan towers over his opponents. However not like present day massive males, he doesn’t shoot 3-pointers nor does he enterprise out to the perimeter. McMillan is the basic bruiser within the center who isn’t afraid to do the soiled work on the defensive finish.
On Tuesday, Monte Vista (17-10, 4-5) bought all of it that and extra from its sophomore massive man. In a defensive slugfest, Monte Vista pulled out a 49-45 win over Amador Valley (19-9, 3-6) at residence to advance to the third spherical of the East Bay Athletic League playoffs the place the Mustangs will go on the street to California Excessive on Wednesday.
“Gavin is a stud man,” Monte Vista coach Nick Jones stated. “He’s very mature for a young kid. He’s been developing the whole year, and he’s really turned into a vocal leader for us as a sophomore. He was a freaking monster tonight.”
McMillan totaled 10 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 blocked pictures as Monte Vista’s defensive anchor. Sophomore Ian Desai had a team-high 11 factors and Chase Simpelo totaled eight.
“I just try to help my guys out on defense,” McMillan stated. “Offensively, it just felt good tonight. When we got the ball inside, I kind of just pump faked through the defense and went up with it.”
Monte Vista’s Gavin McMillan (34) shoots previous Amador Valley’s Dante Ventura (14) throughout their East Bay Athletic League playoff sport at Monte Vista Excessive Faculty in Danville, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
After going up three at halftime, Amador Valley made a run within the third and appeared to blow the sport open.
A Dante Ventura 3 capped off a 8-4 run to open the third and made the rating 35-28 in favor of the street group with 4:53 left within the interval. However Monte Vista was resilient and ended the quarter sturdy to go down 40-37 heading into the ultimate interval.
With the sport on the road, the Mustangs placed on a defensive clinic within the fourth quarter. The Dons took a four-point lead on a made 3 from Kasen Krueger two minutes into the beginning of the interval, however that’s the final bucket Amador Valley would see for the remainder of the sport.
Later within the interval, McMillan grabbed an offensive rebound and tipped the ball to Simpelo, who scored on a layup with a foul to tie the sport at 45. McMillan scored the largest basket of the sport when he grabbed an offensive rebound and put it again via the ring to offer the Mustangs a 47-45 lead with simply over a minute left.
Amador Valley had its probabilities to tie, however Monte Vista’s stingy protection compelled two deep 3s that went off the mark. Desai iced the sport with two clutch free throws to advance Monte Vista to the following spherical of the league playoffs.
The Mustangs ended the ultimate minutes of play on an 8-0 run.
Monte Vista head coach Nick Jones gestures throughout their East Bay Athletic League playoff sport in opposition to Amador Valley at Monte Vista Excessive Faculty in Danville, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Jones credit slowing the sport down as the largest key to Tuesday’s win.
“We were taking bad shots that were leading to transition opportunities, and we couldn’t get matched up with their shooters,” Jones stated. “We just tried to kind of slow things down, work through Gavin, Desai and Colin (Ellis) and go from there. We were our own worst enemy at times, but in the fourth quarter, we just kind of settled down and played through the post and got the ball inside.”
The Mustangs could have a fast turnaround as they may journey just a few exits south of Interstate 680 to play California on Wednesday. Earlier this season, Cal beat Monte Vista in Danville 47-45 in a detailed and bodily sport.
Earlier than diving into Wednesday’s preparation, Jones stated he’ll want a while to chill out earlier than he creates his sport plan.
“I’m going to go have a cocktail, take a deep breath and then I’ll start watching Cal film,” he stated.
MORE BOYS BASKETBALL
No. 1 Archbishop Riordan 65, Archbishop Mitty 40
Riordan held a 36-9 lead at halftime and didn’t let up because the Crusaders cruised to their twelfth straight win with a 25-point rout of Mitty at residence.
No. 10 St. Ignatius 50, St. Francis 29
The Wildcats bought scoring from all over the place on Tuesday as they blow out St. Francis for his or her fifth straight win. Vince Crisp, Ty Landers and Raymond Whitley every had 9 factors for St. Ignatius, which improved to 16-5, 9-2 WCAL.
No. 13 Valley Christian 71, Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral 47
Valley Christian had no hassle with SHC up within the Metropolis. Bryant Clark led the best way for VC (17-5, 8-4 WCAL) with 28 factors, adopted by Brayden Harris with 9 factors. Hudson Dennison and Justin Hampton added eight apiece for the Warriors.
Serra 73, No. 20 Bellarmine 70
Serra overcame a 13-point deficit and Ryan Rice hit the go-ahead 3 in time beyond regulation to down Bellarmine on the street. Serra senior Mikey Ballout had a game-high 24 factors, which included 4 made 3s. Sebastian Margate added 16 factors and 6 assists. Serra (13-9, 4-8 WCAL) will host St. Francis on Friday. Bellarmine dropped to 15-7, 6-6.
MacDonald 45, Santa Clara 38
MacDonald picked up its first league win of the season with a robust defensive effort final Friday. The Condors (8-12, 1-10 SCVAL) had misplaced 89-61 at residence to the Bruins (2-19, 1-10) in January however carried the day on the street. MacDonald held Santa Clara to 5 factors within the first quarter, seven within the second and 10 within the fourth. Dom Hunt led the best way offensively for the Condors, scoring 19 factors, whereas Moussa Fall posted a stellar all-around effort with six factors, 15 rebounds and three blocked pictures. Fall was a “monster down low,” in keeping with MacDonald soccer coach Burt Codera.
Menlo 82, Crystal Springs Uplands 43
The Knights snapped their three-game dropping streak by routing Crystal Springs on the street. Menlo junior Ethan Zhao completed with 24 factors, eight rebounds and three steals. Jay’Ar Davis had 17 factors and Aidan Stull crammed the stat sheet with 10 factors, seven assists, eight rebounds and three steals. Menlo improved to 14-9, 4-5 West Bay Athletic League. Crystal Springs dropped to 8-13, 2-7.
Mt. Eden 64, Encinal 47
The dynamic duo of Johnson Tran and Lorenzo Jackson led Mt. Eden to its fourth straight victory. Tran had a game-high 22 factors and Jackson added 19 for Mt. Eden (15-9, 8-1), which is in full management of first place within the West Alameda County Convention Shoreline Division. Adam Elmouhtaj had 11 factors and Roma Funes scored 10 for Encinal, which dropped to 9-13, 3-6.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty 71, No. 7 Archbishop Riordan 50
Mitty received its one hundred and first consecutive WCAL matchup to stay unbeaten in league play because of a 21-0 third-quarter run. Riordan confirmed indicators of threatening an upset within the first half, however these have been lengthy gone after Mitty’s explosive scoring burst. Christian Babcock was in San Jose and has the total story right here.
No. 12 St. Ignatius 50, No. 9 St. Francis 45
SI pulled out a detailed league battle over St. Francis at residence within the Metropolis on Tuesday. The Wildcats (13-9, 6-4 WCAL) led 28-25 on the half and simply 35-34 after three quarters. The Cats received the fourth 15-11 to safe the victory. St. Francis dropped to 17-6 total and 6-5 within the WCAL. SI sits in a tie for second within the league standings with Riordan, trailing solely Mitty. The Wildcats beat Riordan 55-49 on the street of their first assembly and play the Crusaders once more at SI subsequent Tuesday. The Lancers are alone in fourth place within the WCAL.
Dougherty Valley 60, Monte Vista 47
Junior guard Keira Tom scored a game-high 24 factors and dished out 4 assists to steer Dougherty Valley previous Monte Vista within the second spherical of the EBAL playoffs. Sophomore Juliette Leonard totaled 18 factors and Naliyah Sefidi had 15 for Monte Vista, which dropped to 12-15, 4-6. Dougherty Valley (17-9, 4-5) will journey to California on Wednesday.
BOYS SOCCER
Acalanes 3, Northgate 1
Acalanes picked up a key victory over Northgate because of a trio of objectives. Josh Sheehy notched the lone tally for Northgate (9-6-3, 3-4-2 DAL). Acalanes improved to 12-4-3 total and 5-4-1 within the DAL. Northgate finishes out the common season in opposition to Campolindo on Thursday. Acalanes will finish its regular-season slate in opposition to School Park on Saturday.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pioneer 4, Branham 1
Pioneer made simple work of Branham on Tuesday, bettering to 12-2-3 total and 4-1-3 within the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division this season. The Mustangs have sole possession of third place within the league with the win. Three totally different gamers adorned the scoresheet for Pioneer. Ella Overhulse had two objectives and an help. Rylee Ronchetti and Destini Twiggs added a aim apiece. Patricia Acoba chipped in three assists. Branham dropped to 12-3-4 total and fourth within the Mt. Hamilton with a league report of 5-3-1.
Initially Printed: February 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM PST
