Clayton Valley takes command down stretch, beats Acalanes to win DAL title

Clayton Valley was the best team in the Diablo Athletic League during the regular season and that did not change in the league tournament.

It was tight for three quarters Saturday.

Really tight.

But when the clutch minutes arrived, Clayton Valley more than met the challenge.

The Ugly Eagles – ranked fourth by the Bay Area News Group – outscored Acalanes by 12 points in the final period to win the DAL championship 69-57 at Alhambra.

The teams were tied after one quarter, at halftime and through three quarters as Acalanes threatened to spoil Clayton Valley’s bid for three consecutive league tournament championships.

But it wasn’t to be for the upset-minded Dons.

Senior guard Vince Ellis scored six of his 17 points in the fourth period for Clayton Valley but was anything but a one-player show.

Five players scored at least four points for the Ugly Eagles (25-3) in the final period and another scored two as Clayton Valley added to a resume that was already strong enough to send the Concord school to the North Coast Section Open Division bracket.

The only suspense for Clayton Valley when the field is unveiled Sunday will be seeding. The Ugly Eagles were No. 2 in the NCS’s MaxPreps computer rankings Saturday night.

Assuming nothing changes, they’ll be seeded No. 2 behind Salesian and receive an opening-round bye.

In addition to Ellis, Zion Grissom (15 points), Chris Berry (11 points) and Cannon Simpson (10 points) scored in double figures for Clayton Valley on Saturday.

Acalanes fell to 17-11.

No. 1 Salesian 70, St. Mary’s-Berkeley 35

Asante Johnson finished with 19 points and Carlton Perrilliat Jr. added 16 points to lead Salesian to a rout of St. Mary’s in the Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division tournament final at El Cerrito.

The Pride also got 13 points from Elias Obenyah as it improved its record to 25-3.

Next stop: The NCS Open Division playoffs, which Salesian will be heavily favored to win.

St. Mary’s had no player score more than six points Saturday as it fell to 17-10.

Girls basketball

No. 13 Salesian 65, Pinole Valley 34

Salesian built a 14-point lead by halftime and did look back as the Pride cruised past Pinole Valley to win the Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division tournament championship.

Ezra Palec (18 points), Faith Thompson (13 points) and Caileigh Edwards (12 points) scored in double figures for Salesian, which improved to 18-10.

Pinole Valley is 16-12.

No. 9 Clayton Valley 73, No. 14 Acalanes 35

Clayton Valley left no doubt that it is the DAL’s top girls team this season, overpowering Acalanes in stunning fashion to capture the league tournament title at Alhambra.

A little more than two weeks after beating the Dons by eight points during league play, Clayton Valley found a few more gears Saturday.

The Ugly Eagles led 15-6 after the first quarter and 49-18 at halftime.

Clayton Valley improved to 21-7. Acalanes is 19-8.