DUBLIN – For the final yr, Dublin has been listening to all of the noise.
The Gaels misplaced the 2024 North Coast Part Division I championship sport to rival Dougherty Valley and watched Jalen Stokes – its star participant – switch to the San Ramon faculty simply earlier than the varsity yr.
Since then, Dublin has carried a chip on its shoulder.
Each slight on social media, each article that didn’t point out the Gaels as one of many Bay Space’s prime groups and each low preseason rating was filed away for use at a later date.
That later date was Friday night time.
Dublin’s Jaiden Jones (4) celebrates in entrance of Dougherty Valley’s Cole Roque (5) after profitable their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Dublin performed its finest sport of the season because the Gaels defeated rival Dougherty Valley 64-61 in entrance of a packed home at dwelling. Despite the fact that Stokes had a game-high 23 factors, it wasn’t sufficient to beat his previous group.
“We’ve been waiting for this matchup all year,” Dublin junior guard Jaiden Jones stated. “We had this on our calendars. We were ready to play them. We needed our get back from the NCS championship and we got it.
“We were very motivated by Jalen’s return. We came here ready to perform, but we weren’t too worried about him. We just had to worry about how we were going to play.”
Jones completed with a team-high 16 factors – 11 of which got here within the third quarter – and grabbed 12 rebounds. Senior Miles Pollard totaled 16 factors and junior Cam Anderson completed with 10.
Whereas the extraordinary rivalry together with Stokes’ return made Friday’s East Bay Athletic League sport an emotional matchup, Dublin coach Tom Costello stated there have been no exhausting emotions from Stokes’ former faculty.
“These guys are friends and friends compete with no ill will,” Costello stated. “Jalen is in a good spot for him and we’re in a good spot for us, so let’s just play.”
The coed part rushes the courtroom as they have fun with Dublin’s Cooper Chew (11) after defeating Dougherty Valley after their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
A Jordan Morganstein 3-pointer capped off a 12-3 run from Dublin to open the quarter. Jones was electrical throughout that stretch as he bullied his method into the paint for simple scores.
One other Morganstein lengthy ball close to the top of the quarter gave Dublin (22-4, 6-3) its largest lead of the night time at 15. The Gaels completed the third quarter outscoring Dougherty Valley 24-13.
However simply when it regarded like Dublin was going to place away Dougherty Valley for good, the fourth-ranked Wildcats (19-7, 7-2) unloaded one final run to make issues fascinating.
Dougherty Valley scored 5 unanswered to begin the ultimate interval. The Wildcats leaned on junior guard Rashod Cotton Jr., who scored 13 of his 18 factors within the second half.
With below 30 seconds left within the sport, Dougherty Valley senior guard Cole Roque scored a layup to make the rating 62-61 because the Wildcats put themselves able to take the lead late.
After Morganstein knocked in two free throws to increase Dublin’s result in three, Dougherty Valley had simply over 20 seconds left to try to tie the sport. However the Wildcats’ ultimate efforts had been denied by Dublin’s protection within the closing moments because the Gaels earned their finest win of the season.
“I think our energy out of halftime changed everything,” Pollard stated. “I feel like as a team we were resilient. It was the biggest half of our season, so we came out and did what we had to do.”
Dublin’s protection bounced again after giving up 76 factors to San Ramon Valley on Tuesday. The Gaels held Stokes to simply seven factors within the second half and had been the extra bodily group down the stretch.
“It was just a thrilling game,” Anderson stated. “I think we just did a good job rebounding, playing defense. It was just a good game all around.”
With all that has transpired over the past yr, Friday’s sport took an emotional toll on each groups. Though disillusioned with the end result, Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen stated he felt a way of reduction following the defeat.
“I have not looked forward to this day since school started,” Hansen stated. “I’m glad it’s behind us. I’m still excited. We’re still legit and we’re still going to make a deep run.”
The coed part rushes the courtroom as they have fun with the group after defeating Dougherty Valley after their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin head coach Tom Costello walked over to greet Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen earlier than their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin head coach Tom Costello continues to shake fingers with Dougherty Valley gamers after shaking fingers with head coach Mike Hansen after their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin’s Miles Pollard (10) shoots and makes a three-point basket in opposition to Dougherty Valley within the first half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin’s Miles Pollard (10) shoots and makes a three-point basket previous Dougherty Valley’s Cole Roque (5) within the first half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen gestures to his gamers whereas enjoying Dublin within the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin’s Cameron Anderson (15) guards Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) within the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) begins to indicate indicators of frustration as they fall behind within the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen reacts to an officers name whereas enjoying Dublin within the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) fails to attain a basket in opposition to Dublin within the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin’s Jaiden Jones (4) shoots previous Dougherty Valley’s Tyler Robins (12) within the first half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin head coach Tom Costello watches his group play Dougherty Valley in the course of the second half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dublin head coach Tom Costello huddles together with his gamers throughout a trip within the first half of their sport at Dublin Excessive College in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Dublin defeated Dougherty Valley 64-61. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: February 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM PST
