Acalanes remains only unbeaten North Coast Section girls basketball team after winning So Cal Holiday Prep Classic NCAA Premier Division title

Acalanes High continued the most impressive start in girls basketball program history Saturday in the NCAA Premier Division final at the So Cal Holiday Prep Classic by securing a 72-57 victory in an all-North Coast Section showdown against San Ramon Valley at Canyon Hills High in San Diego.

With Piedmont and Eureka St. Bernard’s both suffering losses in holiday tournaments earlier in the week, the Dons (11-0) enter the new year as the section’s only remaining unbeaten girls basketball team.

KK Lacanlale, a senior, earned division MVP honors for Acalanes, which opened the championship on a 24-4 run and San Ramon Valley (8-2) never recovered.

Lacanlale accumulated 48 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and seven steals in three tournament contests.

Lacanlale had 14 points and Ariana Hallstrom added 13 points Thursday in a 61-40 victory against Paramount, with the Dons producing a 63-37 semifinal triumph Friday against San Juan Hills.

Fellow seniors Dulci Vail, a Cal Poly commit, and the Cal State San Bernardino-bound Hallstrom were all-tournament selections for Acalanes, which prevailed in its first meeting with San Ramon Valley in more than five years. Vail had 40 points, 15 rebounds, 11 steals and five blocks in the tournament for the Dons, with Hallstrom adding 39 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals. 

Dulci Vail, left, with KK Lacanlale and Ariana Hallstrom for Acalanes | Photo courtesy of Acalanes

The return of Sophie Chinn also provided a significant boost to an already deep Acalanes lineup in San Diego, with the senior guard returning from being sidelined the past 10 months following a knee injury to accumulate 32 points, 17 rebounds and 10 steals in three tournament games.

Kaitlyn Mills, an all-tournament honoree, led the Wolves with 23 points and four assists.

Alyssa Rudd added 14 points and seven rebounds, with all-tournament selection Ella Gunderson scoring 13 points for San Ramon Valley, which had a four-game winning streak snapped following a 63-61 setback Dec. 13 against Clovis.

Pleasant Valley 56, Hart 34: The Vikings (12-3) extended their winning streak to seven in a row to capture the NCAA Gold Division title Saturday at Canyon Hills High.

Nyah Fortune, who was selected division MVP, led Pleasant Valley with 17 points and all-tournament selection AJ Gambol added 15 points, with Shannon Fong scoring 12 points for the Vikings.

Pleasant Valley girls basketball | Photo courtesy of Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley earned a 49-44 semifinal victory Friday against Santa Margarita at Eastlake High in Chula Vista, with Gambol producing 23 points.

Fong had eight points and Ava Dunn contributed six points for Pleasant Valley against the Eagles.

Gambol opened the tournament Thursday with 18 points in a 68-31 victory against Sonora.

Kabrey Cooper scored 12 points, with Fong and Fortune both adding nine points apiece for the Vikings.

Morgan Mack and Emery Eav, both seniors, received all-tournament recognition for Hart (10-5), which advanced to the final after knocking off Brea-Olinda by a 50-35 in Thursday’s opener and producing a 49-44 semifinal victory Friday against Torrance.

Rancho Buena Vista 55, San Marin 51: Senior Camille Dake had 23 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and five blocks to help the Longhorns (9-3) rally from a five-point deficit following the first quarter and capture the NCAA Silver Division crown Saturday at West Hills High.

Dake, who surpassed the 1,000-point barrier for her career in a 56-40 victory Thursday against Pasadena Poly, was selected division MVP for Rancho Buena Vista. Dake had 19 points and 11 rebounds against Pasadena Poly, in addition to 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in in a 60-36 semifinal triumph Friday against Gardena Serra at University City High. 

Dake’s 3-point field goal just before halftime gave the Longhorns a 30-29 lead at the break.

Rancho Buena Vista girls basketball | Photo courtesy of Rancho Buena Vista

AJ Gonzales, a sophomore, added a season-high 13 points for Rancho Buena Vista, including a timely 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to halt the momentum of San Marin (10-3) after a six-point surge had trimmed the Longhorns’ lead to only a three-point advantage.

Tiaira Richardson had 10 points and six rebounds, with Kylie Salzler also receiving all-tournament honors for Rancho Buena Vista after contributing 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists against Serra, along with 11 points and six rebounds against Pasadena Poly.

The Longhorns have won nine consecutive games during the past three seasons at the So Cal Holiday Prep Classic, including a 47-35 victory against St. Joseph Academy from San Marcos to secure the NIT Gold Division title at last year’s event.

Brianna Nottingham scored 13 points for San Marin, which had its eight-game winning streak halted.

Abigail Bartholo added 11 points and Quincy Dean contributed 10 points Saturday for the Mustangs, who opened the tournament Thursday with a 50-31 win against Holy Martyrs and produced a 57-44 semifinal victory Friday against Brentwood Heritage at Westview High.

Galena (Nevada) 67, Hacienda Heights Wilson 45: The Grizzlies (7-5) concluded the year by winning six in a row following only one victory in their first six contests, earning the NCAA Bronze Division title Saturday at El Capitan High in Lakeside.

Galena reached the final following a 50-38 victory Thursday against San Dieguito Academy and a 31-25 semifinal triumph Friday against Murrieta Mesa.

Although Wilson (4-12) suffered a 53-46 semifinal loss Friday to Douglas High from Nevada, the Wildcats still competed in the final, since the Tigers (5-7) are 4A Northern League rivals with Galena and the teams are scheduled to square off Jan. 6.

Douglas finished with three victories in the tournament, including a 52-25 triumph Saturday against Murrieta Mesa.