Men's Basketball - Game Summaries

- JV - Frosh -

Varsity

- NCS Round #3 vs. Redwood - NCS Round #2 vs. Ukiah - NCS Round #1 vs. Northgate - 
- Richmond - Pinole - El Cerrito - Encinal - Hercules - Berkeley - Richmond - El Cerrito - Hercules - De Anza - Berkeley -
- Irvington - Tennyson - Casa Grande Tourney - Kennedy - Central Valley Tourney - Clayton Valley - Concord - Benicia -

Basketball Photo Gallery (courtesy Ed Jay)

NCS Round #3 vs. Redwood
March 3

Hornets 45, Redwood 55

The Alameda Hornets came out rearing to run in Wednesday evening's NCS Division II semi-final, but were quickly stymied by the tight defense of Larkspur's Redwood High. The Giants shut out the Hornets for the first four minutes and maintained the pressure throughout, especially on the perimeter, holding Alameda's normally potent outside shooters to just 3-16 from beyond the arc.

The beginning of the game was marred by numerous turnovers, and Redwood jumped out to an 11-0 lead. 6'4" Giants Senior Demarqus Wiggins made his presence known early, knocking down a three from the top of the key to go with two lay-ups. Shawn Johnson finally put Alameda on the board at the 3:45 mark, and Damien Stowers followed with five quick points.

The Hornets began to climb back in the second quarter. Joe Chin and Dylan Armijo stepped up off the bench to provide back-to-back buckets. However, Redwood's quick guard play of Jay Flaherty and Ryan Healy prevented Taylor Takahashi from getting any open looks and Alameda was therefore unable to go on any sizable scoring runs. Just before half-time, Shawn Johnson brought the Hornets back within four with two lay-ups in transition.

The Hornets remained within striking distance for most of the second half, but were never able to get the push they needed to take the lead. When an Anthony Water's three brought Alameda to their closest margin at 34-32, Wiggins took control, making consecutive buckets including a long turnaround jumper. The Giants finished the quarter with an 8 point lead.

Alameda kept fighting in the fourth quarter. Stowers, Takahashi, and Waters all scored to cut the deficit to three with five minutes to play, but a number of missed opportunities in the post would come back to haunt the Hornets. The solid guard play of Flaherty, Healy, and Kai Drewry would put the game out of reach.

Stowers led the Hornets with 13 points and 9 rebounds; Wiggins led all scorers with 18. Redwood goes on to the NCS Division II championship against 5th seeded Pinole Valley, who upset top-seeded Montgomery.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

NCS Round #2 vs. Ukiah
February 26

Hornets 68, Ukiah 55

The Alameda Hornets continued their improbable playoff run with a nail-biter upset win over the third-seeded Ukiah Wildcats. Alameda was out-sized from the start, but their quickness forced Ukiah to employ a smaller line-up as the game progressed. Taylor Takahashi maintained his hot shooting streak, leading all scorers with 25 on six three-pointers. Damien Stowers and Shawn Johnson also put up double figures in the scoring category, with 12 and 10, respectively. The Hornets maintained the lead throughout, thanks in part to steady contributions from Jared Tatman and Dylan Armijo, who came off the bench and created match-up problems for the Wildcats. With two minutes remaining, Ukiah really put the pressure on. They forced a number of turnovers and cut the Hornets lead to one. However, with ten seconds to play, Johnson knocked down a clutch pull-up jumper. Ukiah could only manage an off-the-mark desperation three and the upset was complete.

Alameda faced second-seeded Redwood High in Wednesday's semifinal game in Larkspur. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

NCS Round #1 vs. Northgate
February 23

Hornets 75, Northgate 60

Playing with a chip on their shoulder after being snubbed a first round NCS home game, the Alameda Hornets blew past the Northgate Broncos 75-60 on Tuesday in Walnut Creek. The win is Alameda's first in division II NCS play since 1996. The Hornets took a big lead in the second quarter and refused to let up, using their superior size and athleticism to upset their Diablo Valley Athletic League opponents.

The Broncos held close for the first eight minutes, but Alameda began to pull away early in the second quarter. Damien Stowers threw down an emphatic jam in traffic to commence a 16-4 run. Taylor Takahashi, who led all scorers with 22 points, had eight in this stretch, including two threes, silencing the rowdy Bronco crowd.

Northgate struggled to break the Hornets tight man-to-man defense. The Broncos fired away from the outside, but found little success, converting just 14% (3-22) from three-point range. Alameda held sharpshooting guards Blake Bergesen and Mike Degarmo to just one trey apiece. Northgate also struggled from the free throw line (15-32).

Beginning the second half with an eleven point lead, Alameda kept up the pace. Quickly, the Broncos fell into foul trouble. Just three minutes into the second half, Alameda had already drawn seven fouls. They shot free throws from then out, and this effectively put Northgate away. Big man Jared Tatman came off the bench and displayed a soft outside touch, knocking down a three from the top of the key. The Senior center also easily defended the Bronco big men, swatting a career-high six shots. Juan Neri played well from the wing, amassing 12 points.

Ahead by 22 with four minutes to play, Alameda was able to substitute in their Junior Varsity call-ups. The Hornets played almost all underclassman; Jesse Lewis, Sam Kunz, Elvedin Tudzinovic, and Juston Dea for the final minutes.

Alameda moves on to the second round of the tournament on Friday against the third-seeded Ukiah Wildcats, who are coming off a first-round bye. The winner will take on the winner of Redwood/Mt. Eden, in the semi-final. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Pinole
February 16

Hornets 42, Spartans 38

The Alameda Hornets virtually clinched a first round NCS home game with a win over league rival Pinole Valley on Tuesday. On Senior Night, Alameda's graduating class of Taylor Takahashi, Shawn Johnson, Damien Stowers, Anthony Waters, and Jared Tatman combined for all but five of the Hornets' points. They also shut down the Spartans normally potent offense, holding Pinole to a season-low 38 points including a mere 12 in the first half.

The first half was a defensive stalemate in which tight defense by both squads forced contested shots. Stowers led the Hornets with 7 points, including a three to end the half, putting them ahead 18-12. For the game, Pinole shanked 13 three pointers (24%) and 13 free throws (38%). Alameda was considerably better from the charity stripe, missing just one free throw.

The Hornets maintained their six point advantage throughout the third quarter, sparked by the strong play on both ends of the floor by small forward Anthony Waters. However, Pinole was far from finished. Marcos Castrillo knocked down a three from the corner to add to his game-high 11 points and pull the Spartans within two. Takahashi, resting a sprained ankle and seeing limited play, caught fire and drained consecutive treys. Although strong play by Lamalcolm Dillahunty and Markee Rhymes kept Pinole close, the Hornets were able to convert free throws down the stretch and come away with the victory.

The Hornets improve to 16-9, 7-4 in the ACCAL, and conclude their regular season on Friday at Richmond High. Pinole falls to 17-8, 6-5 in league play. The two teams could potentially meet again, as both will be competing in the North Coast Section Division II playoffs. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. El Cerrito
February 9

Hornets 54, Gauchos 82

In their second match-up against 20-2 El Cerrito, the Hornets struggled to keep up with the Gauchos run-and-gun style of play as well as their athleticism in the paint. Still undefeated in league play, El Cerrito maintained a full-court pressure defense throughout nearly the entire game which led to Alameda committing a season-high 26 turnovers. Juniors Jamonte Carter and Jabri Jenkins combined for 35 points to lead the Gauchos while guards Taylor Takahashi and Shawn Johnson combined for 21 for host Alameda.

El Cerrito improves to 21-2, remaining undefeated in the ACCAL and virtually locking up the league title. Alameda falls to 15-9 (6-4 ACCAL) and has a bye on Friday. Their NCS playoff prospects remain high, and they play their final home game on Tuesday against Pinole Valley. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Encinal
February 6

Hornets 66, Jets 54

Riding a four game winning streak, the Alameda Hornets opened up a sizable early lead against cross-town rival Encinal, and never looked back, maintaining a double-digit advantage from the second quarter on en route to a 66-54 victory.

Damien Stowers got the Hornets going early, converting two mid-range fade-away jumpers. Guards Taylor Takahashi and Shawn Johnson took it from there, penetrating the Jets defense and finishing a number of acrobatic lay-ups. Takahashi, who led all scorers with 21 points, really took control early in the second quarter as the Senior scored nine points in a three minute span.

Alameda's tight zone defense forced Encinal to shoot from outside, which was an effective strategy until Jet big man Jimmy Hartwig found his stroke from the top of the key. The Senior lefty had 11 of the Jets 13 second quarter points including three treys. Encinal remained close in part due to the gritty post play of Joe Serventi and Chris Johnson, who managed to pull down numerous offensive rebounds despite being out-sized by the Hornets front court.

Nevertheless, Alameda held an eleven point half-time lead and added on in the third quarter. Anthony Waters, Dustin Ho, Jared Tatman, and Joe Chin all stepped up off the bench to contribute buckets. Encinal sharpshooter Byron Buckley caught fire in the final quarter, but the Sophomore's 14 points proved to be too little too late. Encinal was in foul trouble for much of the evening and the Hornets improved on Friday's dreadful free throw percentage to convert 16 points from the charity stripe.

Alameda improves to 15-8, and their NCS prospects improve with every win. They face El Cerrito in a crucial game on Tuesday. Encinal falls to 6-18, and face BSAL powerhouse St. Mary's at home on Wednesday.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Hercules
February 5

Hornets 65, Titans 62

Alameda played the Hercules Titan's close for three quarters, and were able to pull away in the final three minutes of a game that was eerily reminiscent to the first meeting between the teams.

The Hornets struggled early on, playing sloppily and falling behind 9-1 in the first four minutes. However, the inspired play of Jared Tatman brought them back into the game, as the Senior center came off the bench for 8 first quarter points. A 12-4 Alameda run tied the game at 13.

Titans big man Keaton Brooks caused match-up problems for the Hornets in the second quarter, and the Senior scored 6 of his team-high 15 points in the period. Alameda kept pace due to the strong play of Taylor Takahashi and Anthony Waters. The Hornets led 27-26 with the clock winding down, but Titans Sophomore Maunel Jones beat the buzzer by banking in a three-pointer, giving Hercules a one point half-point lead.

Shawn Johnson stepped up for Alameda in the third quarter, scoring six quick points. The Titans countered with their speedy guard combo of Avory Evans and Pershante Hill. Hercules took a 50-41 lead, their biggest advantage of the night, but Juan Neri found his stroke and drained back-to-back treys to pull the Hornets back into the contest.

The comeback was complete early in the fourth, as Johnson knocked down a three to tie the score at 53. Damien Stowers added three buckets down the stretch, the ladder of which put Alameda up 61-60 with a minute and a half to play. As the clock wound down, Hercules was forced to foul. Johnson made one of the free throws, but Brooks quickly scored for the Titans to tie the game at 62. with 12 seconds to play, Takahashi broke the press and was fouled as he went for a lay-up.

As the Titans home crowd was making a ruckus in order to distract Takahashi, Hercules coach Drew Evans attempted to call a timeout to freeze Takahashi prior to the free throws. However, in an inexplicable turn of events, Evans flung his clipboard in the direction of the referee in an attempt to get his attention. Naturally, the official responded not by calling a timeout, but instead a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct, revitalizing Alameda's chances by giving them two more free throws and possession.

Despite missing twenty free throws in the game, a season worst 39% from the line, the Hornets pulled the game out. Alameda improves to 14-8, 6-3 in the ACCAL. They will play crosstown rival Encinal tonight at home in a non-league game. Hercules falls to 8-5, 3-5 in league play. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Berkeley
January 29

Hornets 48, Yellowjackets 46

Everything fell into place for the Alameda Hornets on Friday, as they avenged a 32 point trouncing to perennial nemesis Berkeley just three weeks ago with a 48-46 upset win on Friday. "We really stuck to our game plan tonight," said coach Allen Nakamura afterwards. That they did; slowing down the pace of the game by playing a tight zone defense and not forcing shots on the offensive end.

In the first half, Anthony Waters and Shawn Johnson stepped up with seven points apiece in place of usual leading scorer Taylor Takahashi. Damien Stowers held his own against a bigger Yellowjacket front-court, and was aided by Jared Tatman, a Senior playing in just his second game. Berkeley kept pace with Junior forward Jalil Eppenger, who knocked down three first-half treys, and center Khufu Najee, who had seven of his game high 18 before intermission.

The game went back and forth well into the third quarter, but Juan Neri and Takahashi found their stroke and sent the Hornets on an 8-0 run to end the period. Ahead 38-34, Tatman opened the fourth quarter with six unanswered points for Alameda, opening up their biggest lead of the evening. Stowers continued to out-muscle the Yellowjacket big men, grabbing a season-high 20 rebounds.

In the final three minutes, Berkeley began to climb back. Najee scored and was fouled, followed by point guard Josh Amey driving baseline for an easy lay-up, making the score 46-43. On Alameda's ensuing possession, Takahashi was trapped in the corner, but he found Stowers, who fell but alertly called time-out before the inevitably traveling violation was called. With less than a minute to play, Stowers tipped in a Hornet outside shot, putting Alameda back up by five. Berkeley's Matthew McGill knocked down a clutch three with 3.4 seconds left, but Alameda was able to inbound the ball and secure the upset victory.

The win keeps the Hornet's NCS playoff hopes alive and improves their record to 12-8. Berkeley falls to 12-9. Alameda comes home to take on the De Anza Dons on Tuesday. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Richmond
January 26

Hornets 68, Oilers 44

The Alameda Hornets rebounded from back-to-back losses to two of the Alameda Contra Costa League's top teams with a resounding win over the sloppy Richmond Oilers Tuesday evening at the Hornet's Nest. Alameda surged out to an early lead and played consistently solid ball, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout.

Taylor Takahashi and Joe Chin began the contest displaying the Hornet's stroke from outside, knocking down three early treys. Richmond countered with Demarko Onyjiekwe, a big lefty with a delicate touch from outside. The Senior center had nine points in the first quarter, and led all scorers with 21 for the game.

Damien Stowers was a force in the paint as usual, providing a first half double-double and finishing with 17 points and 15 rebounds. The Oilers were unable to penetrate Alameda's zone defense and resorted to shooting numerous ill-fated shots from well beyond the three point line.

Coming out of intermission with a fourteen point lead, Chin added on, scoring twice more to tie his season high of 11 points. De'Angelo Jeffers ran a strong point in the second half, and made a highlight reel caliber pass to Stowers, who delighted the home crowd with a dunk. Onyjiekwe continued to make his presence felt for the Oilers, but numerous turnovers by his supporting cast led to easy buckets for Alameda. Jeffers and fellow Junior Juan Neri put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

Alameda will go to Berkeley on Friday and face the Yellowjackets, who are always a tough match. The game is at 7 p.m.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. El Cerrito
January 15

Hornets 48, Gauchos 53

Facing one of the top teams in the ACCAL, 15-2 El Cerrito, the Alameda Hornets executed a near perfect game-plan for the first 28 minutes. However, in the final four, it unraveled and the Gauchos stole a 53-48 victory. Despite the disappointing finish for the Hornets, they proved they could play on the level of some of the best competition in their league.

Alameda came into the game with the intent of slowing down the Gauchos, a lanky and athletic team known for its up-tempo style of play. They did just that in the first half, playing a tight zone defense to hold a team that once scored 115 points in a game to just 23. On offense, the Hornets controlled the tempo in a half-court setup, running screens at the top of the key that allowed guards Taylor Takahashi and Shawn Johnson to drive to the hoop for easy buckets. The Senior combo scored 17 of Alameda's 23 first half points. The Hornets also contained El Cerrito's top scorer Jabri Jenkins, who ran into early foul trouble and only scored two first half points.

Damien Stowers emerged in the third quarter, starting a 6-0 run coming out of the locker room, and contributing 7 of his 13 points in the quarter. Alameda maintained the lead, but was unable to pull away, mostly due to El Cerrito's height advantage. The tandem of Takahashi and Johnson gave the Hornets a five point cushion, both knocking down treys midway through the fourth quarter. With Alameda leading 44-39 and four minutes to play, the Gauchos began to gain some momentum. Daniel Rice drove to the hoop and was fouled, converting a three point play. Point Guard Bobby Syvanthong weaved through the Alameda defense and put El Cerrito on top 45-44. Syvanthong led the Gauchos with 16 points, including three buckets in the final three minutes. Free throws by Jenkins and Isaac Goins put the game just out of Alameda's reach.

The Hornets fall to 10-7, 2-2 in the ACCAL. El Cerrito improves to 16-2, 4-0 in league play. Alameda has a bye on Tuesday, and will go to Pinole to face the Spartans next Friday.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Hercules
January 12

Hornets 52, Titans 49

Damien Stowers took Shawn Johnson's outlet pass, slammed home the go ahead dunk with under a minute to play, and the Hornet's Nest erupted. The 6'2" Senior forward had a team high 12 points and was helped by a strong supporting cast as Alameda outscored the Hercules Titans 18-8 in the fourth quarter en route to a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

From the outset, it appeared clear that the game would be a close battle. The teams traded buckets for the first eight minutes, and Alameda came out of the first quarter with a 16-15 lead. Taylor Takahashi ran a solid point, and added 6 quick points. For Hercules, guards Avory Evans and Pershante Hill set the tempo, combining for half of the Titans 30 first half points.

Hercules began to pull away in the second quarter, but the Hornets tight defense forced many contested three pointers, which almost never found the back of the net. In fact, the Titans 3-20 (15%) shooting from outside proved to be what allowed Alameda to stay in the game. The Hornets didn't shoot all that much better from long range, and overall both teams combined for an abysmal 5-35 (14%) from beyond the arc.

Strong play by Titans forward Keaton Brooks, who led all scorers with 15 points, added to Hercules' lead in the third quarter. It was not until late in the third that Alameda showed signs of a comeback. It was sparked by the outstanding defense of Shawn Johnson (6 points, 5 steals) and Anthony Waters (9 points). Using a full court press to create quick turnovers, Alameda pulled within four. Then, with just over four minutes to play, Stowers issued the momentum changer; a rim-rattling slam off a missed lay-up to pull the Hornets within two. After Juan Neri tied the game at 49 a few moments later, Stowers jammed home the go-ahead bucket.

After a wild sequence that resulted in a number of missed lay-ups and near-turnovers, Alameda's Anthony Waters came up with the loose ball. Hercules fouled, but Takahashi sank the first free-throw and the clock ran out on the Titans.

Alameda improves to 10-6 (2-1 ACCAL) and will face 14-2 El Cerrito on Friday. Hercules (5-3, 1-1) returns home to play De Anza.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. De Anza
January 9

Hornets 65, Dons 60

In a game that appeared to be a blowout from the outset, the shorthanded De Anza Dons made a late rally to force the the Hornets into a nail biter. However, Alameda held strong for a 65-60 victory at Pinole Middle School on Saturday evening.

Alameda was in control early, as Taylor Takahashi, Damien Stowers, and Juan Neri combined for 31 first half points. Overall, the Hornets led a balanced attack, with ten different players contributing to the scoring tally. De Anza was led by all-ACCAL power forward Faulkner. The Senior accounted for more than half of the Dons scoring (31 of 60 points), and really turned it on in the final quarter, outscoring Alameda's entire team 19-15.

Coming out of the break, Alameda held a comfortable 37-21 lead, but Dons sharpshooter Lopez quickly caught fire from outside, scoring nine quick points. Takahashi paced the Hornets, draining a contested trey and then driving to the rim and knocking down a circus fall-away shot while drawing the foul. Quinn Reddrick gave Alameda some momentum as the third quarter waned, making an emphatic block of a Dons attempt and then scoring a controversial bucket on the ensuing possession to maintain Alameda's 13 point advantage.

Despite playing without anyone on the bench in the fourth quarter, the Dons showed much resiliency in the final quarter. Faulkner was phenomenal, constantly driving to the rim and drawing fouls. Once Alameda fell into the double bonus, the Senior made them pay, sinking 11 free throws in the quarter. A defensive lapse by the Hornets gave the Dons the ability to pull within two with less than a minute to play, but Lopez's wide open three rattled out and the Hornets held on.

Alameda improves to 9-6, and comes home to face the Hercules Titans, who look to be a formidable test. The Dons fall to 2-7 and play at home against Berkeley. Both games are on Tuesday evening.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Berkeley
January 5

Hornets 38, Yellowjackets 70

The Alameda Hornets fell in their first home contest to the Berkeley Yellowjackets Tuesday. Berkeley's length and quickness proved to be too much for the Hornets in the second half, as 6'7" power forward Akil Johnson scored 11 third quarter points and the Yellowjackets pulled away for a 70-38 victory in both teams' first league match of the young season.

Alameda limited the damage in the first half, playing a tight zone defense. If not for a number of sloppy passes that resulted in turnovers, the Hornets would have actually been right in it at half-time. In fact, Alameda pulled to within three following an 8-0 run mid-way through the second quarter including back-to-back treys by Taylor Takahashi, who led the team with 14 points. Damien Stowers sparked the crowd with a breakaway slam dunk. The Senior forward added nine rebounds to his six points.

However, after half-time, the Yellowjackets played with a new level of intensity. Johnson and fellow big man Langston Morris-Walker dominated the paint, combining for 19 points as Berkeley outscored Alameda 24-5 in the third.

Strong play by Shawn Johnson (8 points) and Joe Chin (6 points) paced Alameda in the final quarter, but it was too little too late. The Hornets fall to 8-6, 0-1 in Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League play. Berkeley improves to 7-6 (1-0). The Hornets play next in De Anza on Saturday at 7 p.m. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Irvington
January 2

Hornets 61, Vikings 45

Following a miscommunication that led to Ygnacio Valley forfeiting Tuesday's contest, the Alameda Hornets rolled over the Irvington Vikings 61-45 on Saturday in Fremont. A combination of solid defense by the Hornets and flat-out horrid shooting by the Vikings led to Irvington amassing just 17 first-half points. Alameda took advantage of Irvington's numerous offensive mishaps to mount a 16 point half-time lead.

Shawn Johnson, who finished with 11 points, got the Hornets rolling with two early buckets. After big man Damien Stowers picked up two quick fouls, Dustin Ho took over and controlled the paint, scoring six points. Alameda's stifling defense forced Irvington to launch from deep, and they found little success. In fact, the Vikings shot a miserable 2-23 (8%) from downtown.

Taylor Takahashi took over in the second quarter, spinning in the lane to sink a nifty lay-up, and later nailing a three just seconds before the buzzer. By the break, Alameda had allowed no Viking player to score more than three points.

Takahashi continued to pace the Hornets in the second half, shooting a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc and finishing with 22 points. Midway through the third quarter, the teams traded emphatic blocks, as the Vikings' Anthony Dugger swatted a Hornet shot followed by Stowers rejecting an Irvington offering on the very next possession.

Ahead 49-25, Alameda tried out a younger line-up, which held its own against the Vikings front line. De'Angelo Jeffers ran a strong point, and he was supported by Ho, Junior forward Quinn Reddrick, Freshman Jesse Lewis, and Junior guard John Ruck, who returned from injury to play his first game.

Alameda improves to 8-5, and open league play at home against the perennially tough Berkeley Yellowjackets. Irvington falls to 3-8 and play at Washington High in Fremont to open MVAL play.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Tennyson
December 22

Hornets 60, Lancers 63

Alameda lost another nail-biter on Tuesday, letting an early lead slip away en route to a three point loss to the Tennyson Lancers in Hayward. Coming off a victory in the consolation bracket of the Casa Grande Tournament, Juan Neri got the Hornets rolling early, scoring all nine of his points in the first quarter.

Damien Stowers added to the Alameda advantage with 12 first half points, but the Lancers' Jullian Powers kept pace with 12 of his own. By half-time, Powers and fellow guard Jose Gulinau had brought Tennyson's deficit back to within five points.

Despite the strong guard play of Alameda's Taylor Takahashi and De'Angelo Jeffers (14 and 10 points, respectively) in the second half, the Lancers continued to claw at the lead. At the third quarter buzzer, Gulinau drained a deep three in the corner to tie the game at 47.

The fourth quarter went back-and-forth, but futility from beyond the arc brought down the Hornets in the long run. In fact, Alameda shot just 1-18 (5%) from downtown. Excellent defensive work by forward Anthony Waters incited a crucial fifth foul out of the feisty Powers, but Kamar Stephens took over and converted three key buckets for the Lancers. Alameda had an opportunity in the final four seconds, but Jeffers desperation three rolled off the rim.

Alameda, 6-5, has a week off before their next game, the first home game of the season. They face Ygnacio Valley at the Hornet's Nest on Tuesday December 29. 

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

@ Casa Grande Tournament
December 10-12

GAME #1 - HORNETS 53, ALLEN 60

The Hornets fell in the first game of the Brett Callan Memorial Tournament in Petaluma to Allen High School of Santa Rosa. Alameda stayed close for the first three quarters before letting the game get out of reach in the fourth. Allen dominated the post, with big men Paggart and Johnson scoring 24 points apiece. Taylor Takahshi led the Hornets with 19 points, and Juan Neri added 16, including three treys. Damien Stowers contributed 14 rebounds. Alameda falls to 4-4 on the year. They play Friday at 5 p.m..

GAME #2 -  HORNETS 73, RICHMOND 63

The Hornets faced the Richmond Oilers, a league rival, in the second round of the Casa Grande Tournament. Alameda fell behind early, and was outscored 16-7 in the first quarter and 30-22 in the first half. However, behind the outstanding post play of Damien Stowers (34 points, 16 rebounds), the Hornets were able to pull away in the second half. Guards Taylor Takahashi and Shawn Johnson combined for 22 points including two three pointers and 8-10 free throw shooting. Richmond center Demarko Onyejiekwe led the oilers with 35 points. Alameda faces Novato for the consolation championship tomorrow.

GAME #3 - HORNETS 68, NOVATO 54

The Alameda Hornets outplayed their similarly nicknamed opponents from Novato to clinch the championship of the consolation bracket of the Casa Grande Tournament on Saturday. Once again, they came from behind, relying on the dominant post presence of all-tournament player Damien Stowers. The Senior big man come up big again, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, as well as holding 6'6" Novato center Brian Crow in check. With the win, Alameda improves to 6-4 on the season, and will face Tennyson on Tuesday evening in Hayward.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Kennedy-Fremont
December 8

Hornets 79, Fremont 84

The Hornets were outplayed for the first three quarters Tuesday evening at Kennedy High School in Fremont, only to make a valiant comeback but fall short 84-79. Alameda's poor free throw shooting and numerous early turnovers forced them into a seemingly insurmountable deficit, but a dramatic late rally tied the game at 79 with 46 seconds to play. However, when it mattered most, Titans forward D'Vaughn Mann knocked down four key free throws and Kennedy pulled away with the win.

Alameda fell behind quickly in the first half, due to the outstanding play of Titans point guard Chris Murry, who drove to the hoop with ease for 15 points. He also dished out five assists. The Hornets were led by big man Damien Stowers in the first half. The Senior had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.

After intermission, Alameda was still unable to slow down the Titans high-octane offensive arsenal, as Kennedy rotated spot shooters into the game to knock down three pointers. Junior guard Joe Chin kept the Hornets within reach, scoring six in the third quarter.

Down 20 with eight minutes to play, Alameda completely turned their game around. The Hornets opened the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run, thanks in part to a trapping pressure defense and the deft guard play of Taylor Takahashi and De'Angelo Jeffers. In fact, by the time Kennedy was able to convert a field goal, the Hornets had cut their deficit by more than half to just seven. Takahashi was unstoppable, draining a deep three, stealing the Kennedy inbounds, and then finishing a ridiculous spin move in the lane, drawing a foul in the process. He converted the free throw to tie the game.

On Kennedy's ensuing possession Mann, who led all scorers with 24 points, was fouled and went to the line. Previously 0-6 from the charity stripe, the 6'3" Junior wing man converted both free throws. When Takahashi's lay-up rolled out, Alameda was forced to foul. Mann made them pay again, sinking both shots to put the game away.

Takahashi led the Hornets with 21 points. Stowers and Jeffers finished with 19 and 18, respectively. In the end, free throw shooting proved to be their Achilles heel, as the squad finished just 18-40 (45%) from the line. Alameda falls to 4-3. They will play Thursday against Allen High School (Santa Rosa) in a tournament in Petaluma. Kennedy improves to 3-4 and will face Encinal on Saturday.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

@ Central Valley (Lehigh) Tournament - Redding
December 10-12

GAME #1 - HORNETS 52, PONDEROSA 62

The Hornets dropped their first game of the young season, falling 62-52 to Ponderosa High School in the opening round of the Lehigh Tournament in Redding. The Bruins came into the tournament as defending champions. Although they were notably outsized by their competition, the Hornets held their own in a defensive battle of a first half, maintaining a 26-23 lead. However, the post presence of 6'9" Ponderosa Center Brad Waldow proved to be too much for the Hornets in the third quarter, as the Senior erupted for 17 of his 40 points to give the Bruins a 44-36 advantage. On the offensive end, Alameda was led by Damien Stowers's 18 points in just three quarters. Taylor Takahashi added 13 of his own including three treys. Alameda falls to 3-1. They play again tomorrow afternoon at 3:30.

GAME #2 - HORNETS 75, WEST VALLEY 64 

After falling in their first game of the Lehigh Tournament, the Hornets got back on track on Friday, beating the West Valley Eagles 75-64. Alameda rallied behind the strong guard play of Taylor Takahashi, De'Angelo Jeffers, and Shawn Johnson, who combined for 36 points and six three-pointers. The Eagles were led by Russell Flower, who had 26, and Casey Duenas, who knocked down five long-balls. Despite "coming out flat to start the second half" according to coach Nakamura, Alameda was able to find their groove in the fourth quarter, outscoring West Valley 27-15 in the final period. The Hornets play Liberty Christian High School of Redding tomorrow at 4:30 P.M.

GAME #3 - HORNETS vs. ??? 

Game summaries will go here.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Clayton Valley
December 8

Hornets 76, Eagles 64

The Alameda Hornets shook off a slow start Tuesday in Clayton to avenge last season's opening round NCS loss to the Clayton Valley Eagles by a score of 76-64. The Hornets fell behind early, were able to tie the game at half-time, and blew it wide open in the third quarter, outscoring the self-proclaimed "Ugly Eagles" 26-9.

Clayton Valley played strong fundamental defense in the first quarter to hold the Hornets to just 12 points while making a barrage of outside shots to take a five point lead. Behind the strong guard play of Taylor Takahashi and Joe Chin, who combined to score 12 in the second quarter, Alameda was able to keep pace. Takahashi drove to the basket and was fouled with just under three minutes to play in the half. The Senior proceeded to drain both free throws, tying the game for the first time at 30-30. The Eagles refused to let up, but consecutive baskets by Juan Neri kept the game knotted at 38 at intermission.

Drawing off momentum from his two late first half buckets, Neri exploded out of the gate in the second half, scoring 10 of the first 12 points. The Junior Small Forward had 16 points in the third quarter alone including four treys, the last of which swished in as he faded away and fell backwards in the corner. "I wasn't really thinking; I was just letting it fly. They just kept going in," said Neri afterwards. All in all, Alameda made six three-pointers in the third quarter, while holding Clayton Valley to just nine points in the quarter. With time expiring, Anthony Waters, in his first game back following a leg injury, emphatically blocked an Eagles shot, hauled in the loose ball, and fired it to Chin, who beat the buzzer with a lay-up to put Alameda up by 17.

The play turned a bit sloppy in the final minutes, but the post presence of Senior Damien Stowers (13 points) and Freshman Jesse Lewis (5 points) prevented Clayton Valley from going on any sort of serious scoring run.

Alameda improves to 3-0 and hopes to bring the momentum from the win into this weekend's Central Valley Tournament in Redding. Clayton Valley falls to 0-3 on the young season.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Concord
December 4

Hornets 50, Minutemen 32

The Hornets used a balanced scoring attack and stifling defense in the fourth quarter to handily defeat that Concord Minutemen on Friday evening.  Guards Taylor Takahashi and De'Angelo Jeffers led the offensive attack from the perimeter, knocking down a combined six three-pointers.  Damien Stowers was again a force down low, especially after the early loss of center Dustin Ho to an ankle injury, providing 11 points and 16 rebounds.  Leading 36-29 after three quarters, the Alameda finished on a high-not, outscoring the Minutemen 14-3 in the final period.  The Hornets (2-0) next game will be Tuesday in Clayton Valley, a re-match of last years NCS first round contest.  They look to avenge that loss to the Eagles in what will surely be their toughest test yet.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Benicia
December 2

Hornets 77, Panthers 58

The Alameda Hornets opened up their season with a resounding victory, scoring early and often to top the Benicia Panthers 77-58. The Hornets used stifling defense in the first half to gain an early lead and never looked back, outscoring the Panthers in every quarter. Junior Point Guard De'Angelo Jeffers came off the bench to provide the early spark, and Senior Forward Damien Stowers brought the muscle, scoring 27 points and hauling in 15 rebounds.

After a quick assist to Juan Neri thirteen seconds into the game, starting Point Guard and defending all-ACCAL selection Taylor Takahashi picked up two early fouls. Jeffers, playing in his first varsity game, accepted the challenge and proved to be a true play-maker, dishing out 4 assists in the first quarter.

Ahead by one after the first eight minutes, Alameda tightened up on the defensive end, pressuring Benicia into numerous turnovers. Stowers was a force in the paint, and the high-flying forward scored 12 points and picked up 11 rebounds in the first half.

The Hornets broke the game open coming out of the locker room. They began the second half on a 12-0 run, doubling their lead. Takahashi started to find his groove, scoring four points during this stretch, and Shawn Johnson added the dagger; Alameda's sole three-point bucket of the contest. The Panthers stayed within reach, thanks to the strong guard play of Noah Wellington and Jason Webster. In the final moments of the third quarter, Aaron Sharpe incited the home crowd back into the game by slamming home a breakaway dunk.

However, Alameda's advantage in the post proved to be too much for the Panthers. The Hornets line of Stowers, Junior Dustin Ho, and Freshman Jesse Lewis provided a surplus of offensive rebounds that lead to second-chance points. Stowers was at his best in the fourth, scoring 13 points. He was matched by Benicia's Webster, who had ten in the fourth quarter, including a perfect 6-6 stretch from the free throw line. Quinn Reddrick added some insurance as the clock wound down, knocking down two outside jumpers.

With the win, Alameda improves to 1-0. They take on the 0-3 Concord Minutemen on Friday evening. Benicia falls to 0-2. They play at Napa on December 14.

Submitted by Eli Nemzer

vs. Alumni
November 27

Current Hornets vs. Alumni Hornets

PHOTOS (courtesy J. Lim)

Game summary, if submitted, will go here.

Junior Varsity

- Richmond - Pinole - El Cerrito - Encinal - Hercules - De Anza - Berkeley - Richmond - Pinole - El Cerrito - Hercules -
- De Anza - Berkeley - Tennyson - JV Winter Classic - Kennedy - Central Valley Tourney - Clayton Valley - Concord - Benicia -

vs. Richmond
February 19

Hornets 62, Oilers 26

The Hornets JV Men’s basketball team defeated Richmond on the Oilers’ home court 62-26. Alameda ran off to a quick 8-0 lead, but Richmond came back to tie the game. The Hornets, however, stayed focused and boosted their lead to 32-16 at halftime; including a nice shot by Boyung Gai.

The Hornets started strong and every Alameda player made contributions in the second half. Cameron Look’s top of the key assist to Zack Alphers resulted in a score and boosted the lead to 41-18. Richmond hit a 3 pointer and 2 hoops to cut the lead to 41-25. Then, Elvedin Tudzinovic answered with a mid range jumper followed by a steal and lay up by Trent Yee. Alameda kept attacking the hoop in the 4th quarter and Trent drove baseline and scored a reverse lay up. Justin Dea’s steal and coast to coast lay up pushed the lead to 55-25. Ivan Linh, the game’s high scorer with 19 points, hit a long range 3 pointer late in the game.

Scoring and rebounding was very balanced. Ivan had 4 rebounds to go with his 19 points. Justin scored 9 points and added 2 steals. Sam Kunz had 7 points and 6 rebounds. Cris Luistro, Elviden Tudzinovic and Zack Alphers had 6 points each and 1, 3 and 5 rebounds respectively. Brandon Morales hit 4 points and had 3 rebounds. Trent Yee’s 4 points were complemented by his two steals. Andrew Mah grabbed 3 rebounds. Boyung Gai scored 2 plus a rebound. Cameron Look provided steady play at the point and had an assist and a steal.

The Alameda JV Men’s basketball team finishes the season 16-10 overall and 8-4 in league play. They defeated each teach in the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League at least once and finished the season winning 12 of 16 games.

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Pinole
February 16

Hornets 40, Spartans 47

The JV Hornets trailed early and kept the score close, but they allowed too many offensive rebounds to the tall Pinole squad and lost to the Spartans 47-40 in the season’s last home game. In fact, Alameda only had 12 team rebounds compared to 30 rebounds during their January win over Pinole. The Hornets scoring was slow to start the game and they were down 8-3 after the first 5 minutes. Outside shooting picked up late in the quarter when Justin Dea hit two 3 pointers and Brandon Morales hit a jumper. However, the Hornets still trailed 13-11 after one quarter.

Trent Yee made a steal, drove coast to coast and scored. Then Sam Kunz hit a short jumper over tight defense. Suddenly, Alameda was up 17-15. But, the Hornets struggled to stay on track. Pinole scored 9 unanswered points and led 24-17. As they have done all year, Alameda did not quit and Aumen Holliday’s 3 pointer cut the lead to 24-23 and the Hornets were down one at half, 26-25.

Pinole started the 3rd quarter with two consecutive offensive boards and put backs. Down by 7, Alameda stole the ball, Aumen was triple teamed, but made the outlet pass to Elvedin Tudzinovic who passed to Zack Alphers for two. Aumen and Zack each finished with 7 points and Zack added 2 rebounds. Elvedin grabbed 4 rebounds and led the team with 2 assists. Andrew Mah made a nice shot in defensive traffic. But the Spartans got another offensive rebound and score and were up 36-34 after three.

In the final period, the Hornets outside shooting went cold and they were plagued by turn-overs and lack of rebounding. Aumen hit a 3 point shot, but it was too little, too late and Alameda fell 47-40. Sam led the scoring and rebounding with 8 and 5 respectively. Justin had 6 points and Brandon finished with 4. The Hornets record is now 7-4 in league play and 15-10 overall with one game to play at Richmond. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. El Cerrito
February 9

Hornets 63, Gauchos 56

The JV Hornets looked to avenge their six point loss at El Cerrito last January 15th in this ACCAL game at the Hornet’s nest. Alameda fell behind by 8 points early to the Gauchos but fought back and built a seemingly comfortable 13 point lead after 3 quarters.

The Hornet kept things going to start the 4th quarter. Elvedin Tudzinovic made an excellent pass to Zack Alphers for a score to push the lead to 18 points; 51-33. The Gauchos, however, were not finished yet. El Cerrito out played Alameda over the next 5 minutes and cut the Hornet lead to 8 points; 54-46. Alameda was clutch at the free throw line to end the game: four for Zack, three for Elvedin and two for Justin Dea. The Hornets held on to win 63-56 and avenge their earlier loss.

Elvedin led all scorers with 18 points and added 2 steals. Zack led the rebounding with 6 boards, had 12 points and 4 steals. Justin contributed 10 points. Sam Kunz scored 9 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and had 2 assists. Also contributing to the scoring were Aumen Holliday with 7, Trent Yee had 5 points and 4 steals and Andrew Mah added 2 points.

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Encinal
February 6

Hornets 53, Jets 42

After losing a heartbreaker the night before in the final seconds, the JV Hornets took a 16-0 lead and defeated cross town rival Encinal 53-42 at the Hornet’s Nest. Alameda looked inspired; they boxed out for rebounds, drove towards the hoop, looked for and passed to the open man. Encinal tried to make a run by scoring 4 straight points. However, Justin Dea answered with a 3 point shot. With seconds remaining, Ivan Linh captured an offensive rebound and scored to beat the buzzer: Hornets 21 – Jets 5, after one period.

In the second quarter, Aumen Holliday grabbed a rebound, passed to Justin who then found Ivan in traffic resulting in a score. Aumen led the team with 5 rebounds. A couple possessions later, Elvedin Tudzinovic made a terrific pass to Sam Kunz who made a nice move to score. Those would be the only 4 Hornet points of the quarter. Encinal had some success with their full court press and cut the lead to 25-14 by half-time.

The Hornets and Jets exchanged several baskets. Trent Yee scored on an alert back door pass from Elvedin. Later, Elvedin hit a 3 pointer from the top of the key. Sam Kunz drove left from the free throw line for a layup and Cris Luistro’s steal resulted in a “coast to coast” layup. Alameda also missed a series of shots and their lead was 10 points going into the final quarter.

Zack Alphers created high percentage shots on offense and played strong defense. Zack and Sam led the scoring with 12 points apiece. Boyung Gai had an assist and made effective passes and Brandon Morales used his quickness to apply defensive pressure. Every Hornet played in the game and scoring was balanced: Cris had 11, including 6 for 6 from the free throw line, Justin added 5 and Ivan and Trent each had 4 points. Elvedin had 5 points and 4 rebounds. Cameron Look scored on a driving lay up to round out the scoring. The Hornets record improves to 13-9 overall and they remain 6-3 in league. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Hercules
February 5

Hornets 48, Titans 49

The JV Hornets had the ball and a 2 point lead with 12 seconds to play in the game, but hot shooting Hercules stole a victory in the final seconds 49-48 on the Titans home court. The first half was tightly contested and Zack Alphers led the way scoring 6 of his 9 points, but also picking up 3 first half fouls. Zack also collected 5 rebounds for the game before getting his fifth foul. The Hornets held a one point advantaged, 25-24 at half-time.

The Titans started strong and built a 6 point lead early in the third quarter. Alameda started to come back with an excellent inbounds pass from Boyung Gai to Sam Kunz for two. Then, Cris Luistro stole the ball from a Titan guard, raced all the way down court and finished with a lay up. Hercules, however, would answer with strong outside shooting and they build their lead over Alameda to 37-31 after three quarters. The Titans free throw shooting percentage was excellent all game and according to their coach, each player shoots 60 free throws every practice.

The fourth quarter was loaded with action. The Hornets got focused, intensified their defense and started a comeback. Justin Dea swiped the ball and scored on the fast break. Alameda made a defensive stop followed by Justin’s pull up jumper for two. On the Hornet’s next possession, Zack hit two free throws. The Titans scored, but Alameda answered with penetration and an assist by Justin to Elvedin Tudzinovic who made the shot and cut the Hercules lead to two points, 41-39 with 5 minutes to play. Elvedin had 6 points, including 4 for 4 free throws and 3 rebounds. Justin had 6 points and one assist.

Hercules pressured the ball full court, but Aumen Holliday calmly brought the ball up without any 4th quarter turnovers. The Titans, however, kept attacking, drawing fouls and making free throws (9 of 10 in the 4th quarter). Trent Yee responded with a drive and lay up and next possession, he drove, was fouled and hit both free throws. Hercules kept hitting free throws, but so did the Hornets: two for Justin and one for Sam to give Alameda a 46-44 lead. Hercules two free throws tied the game at 46 with 1:37 left. On the next Hercules possession, Sam elevated for the rebound got the outlet out quickly and Aumen Holliday hit a clutch pull up jumper for a 48-46 Hornet lead. Next play, Trent Yee dove to the floor and earned a jump ball – Alameda possession, 12 seconds left. The Hornets, however, could not covert and the Titans small forward slashed through the lane, scored, was fouled and hit the free throw. Final score: Titans 49, Hornets 48.

Sam Kunz had 9 points and led the team with 10 rebounds. Cris Luistro had 10 points to lead the scoring. Trent Yee and Justin Dea each had 6 points for the Hornets who are now 6-3 in league and 12-9 overall. Next up is cross-town rival Encinal High School. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. De Anza
February 2

Hornets 65, Dons 23

Any fears that the Men’s JV Hornets might be flat following their win against Berkeley were quickly put to rest as Alameda jumped out to an 18-0 lead on their way to a 65-23 victory over De Anza at the Hornet’s Nest. Defensive intensity, good ball movement and a balanced attach set the tone in the first period. Midway through the quarter, Andrew Mah’s opportunistic assist to Justin Dea resulted in a lay up. Andrew also contributed 6 points and 4 rebounds. Justin, Aumen Holliday, Cameron Look and Brandon Morales shared duties at the point and minimized turnovers and maximized ball rotation. Cameron also hit two first half 3 pointers and finished with 6 points. Brandon added 4 points. Demonstrating strong teamwork, the Hornets finished the first quarter up 20-2 and 4 players had assists while 7 different players scored.

Early in the second quarter, Ivan Linh grabbed a rebound in traffic, made an outlet to Cris Luistro who hit a long range 3 pointer. Cris led the scoring with 13 points and added 2 steals. Ivan finished with 12 points and led the team with 8 rebounds. The Dons attempted a comeback by hitting two jumpers, but the Hornets responded and kept their large lead. Front court players Elvedin Tudzinovic, Zack Alphers and Sam Kunz repeatedly made effective interior passes to each other resulting in high percentage shots. Elvedin scored 4 points while Zack grabbed 3 rebounds and added 1 assist. Sam scored 11 points and had 3 assists. Trent Yee’s moves to the hoop resulted in 6 points and 2 assists.

Ahead 37-8 to start the third quarter, Alameda continued their defensive pressure, made steals and found the open man and extended the lead to 51-14 by the 3rd quarter’s end. The Hornets finished as they started: with balanced contributions resulting in a 65-23 win. Alameda’s record improves to 6-2 in league play and 12-8 overall. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Berkeley
January 29

Hornets 43, Yellowjackets 40

The JV Men’s Hornet Basketball Team entered Friday night’s game intent on avenging a loss to rival Berkeley in their first meeting on January 5. Alameda was not intimidated by the Yellow Jacket’s home gym and came away with a thrilling 43-40 win. Trent Yee helped ignite the Hornets early with two fast break lay ups; including a smooth reverse lay up. Trent then made a steal, passed a quick outlet to Zack Alphers who elevated over a Berkeley defender to score. The athletic Yellow Jackets, however, had an answer for each Alameda score and Berkeley led 11-10 after one quarter.

With the score tied 12-12, Berkeley hit a 3 pointer followed by a steal and lay up to push their lead to 17-12. A time out got the Hornets back on track and they went on a 6-0 run. Ivan Linh’s active play provided a spark for Alameda in the 2nd quarter. Ivan chased down loose balls, forced a jump ball, made two baskets and was 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Brandon Morales and Cameron Look were tenacious on the defensive end and they provided great ball movement offensively. Cameron used his quickness to steal the ball from a Berkeley guard. He drove to the hoop, got fouled and made both free throws. Justin Dea’s passing set up teammate’s shots including an crisp assist to Ivan who finished with a lay up. Trent and Ivan each finished with 6 points.

The Hornets held a narrow 22-21 lead at halftime, but showed confidence and built their lead to 34-27 to end the 3rd quarter. Alameda wisely used good passing to break the Yellow Jackets aggressive press, instead of trying to dribble through it. Sam Kunz had 3 first half fouls to limit his playing time, but Elvedin Tudzinovic was active on the boards, capturing 9 rebounds to go with his 8 points. Sam made the most of his time on the court grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 7 points. Zack Alphers led all scorers with 10 points.

The fourth quarter was played at a frenetic pace. Cris Luistro made an excellent pass in traffic to Elvedin for the score to start the quarter. Coach Holder, filling in for Coach Felder, strategically used Cris as his defensive specialist and used Justin Dea offensively to finish the game. With just a one point Hornet lead, two Freshmen made contributions: Sam made a clutch free throw and on the next offensive series, Aumen Holliday made a pull up jumper in traffic that was the game winner. Aumen finished with 4 points and a couple assists. The strong Alameda defense and few turnovers were key to victory. The Hornet JV team has now won 8 of their last 10, are 5-2 in league and 11-8 overall. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Richmond
January 26

Hornets 69, Oilers 23

Key Statistics:

• Points: Zack Alphers 12, Ivan Linh 10, Sam Kunz 9, Trent Yee 8, Aumen Holliday 7, Andrew Mah 6, Brandon Morales 5, Cameron Look 2, Cris Luistro 2, Elvedin Tudzinovic 2.
• Rebounds: Andrew Mah 6, Sam Kunz 6, Ivan Linh 3, Aumen Holliday 2, Elvedin Tudzinovic 2, Trent Yee 2, Zack Alphers 2.
• Steals: Justin Dea 2, one each: Aumen Holliday, Elvedin Tudzinovic, Sam Kunz, Zack Alphers
• Assists: Elvedin 2, Aumen 1.

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Pinole
January 22

Hornets 58, Spartans 56

Key statistics:

• Points: Sam Kunz 18, Zack Alphers 17, Elvedin Tudzinovic 11, Justin Dea 4, Trent Yee 4, Aumen Holliday 2, Ivan Linh 2.
• Rebounds: Sam Kunz 12, Trent Yee 6, Zack Alphers 4, Aumen Holliday 2, Elvedin Tudzinovic 2, Ivan Linh 2, Justin Dea 2.
• Steals: Justin, Sam and Tent, one each
• Assists: Aumen 3, Trent 3 and one each: Elvedin, Ivan, Justin, Sam, Zack. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. El Cerrito
January 15

Hornets 51, Gauchos 57

Alameda traveled to El Cerrito High to face a team with 4 players taller than any of the JV Hornets. The Gauchos jumped out to an early lead, mostly on fast breaks and led Alameda 10-6 after the first quarter. In the 2nd quarter, a crisp assist from Cris Luistro and lay up by Elvedin Tudzinovic ignited a Hornet run. Then, Zack Alphers and Trent Yee collaborated on a steal and Trent followed with a layup and Zack hit a jumper on the next possession. The Hornet big men responded to the tall El Cerrito front court and took a 23-19 half time lead. Sam Kunz scored 6 first half points, was active on the boards and finished with a double-double (10 points & 12 rebounds). Elvedin scored 7 points in the first half and finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

The Hornets started the 2nd half with good passing, but then they had a series of turnovers. El Cerrito capitalized on the miscues and made a 12-4 run to take a 31-25 lead. Alameda was down 36-28 when Trent Yee hit a running jumper, but the Gauchos did not allow any momentum shift and finished the 3rd quarter leading Alameda 40-30.

The Hornet defense was tenacious to start the 4th quarter and two steals resulted in 4 quick points and the Gaucho lead was cut to 6 points. However, Alameda mistakes led to turnovers and El Cerrito quickly got the lead back to 44-34. The Hornets would not give up and dramatically cut the El Cerrito lead to 2 points: 50-48. Then the Gauchos intercepted a few passes, scored and won 57-51. In defeat, Alameda’s leading scorer was Zack Alphers with 12 points plus 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. Trent Yee, Aumen Holliday and Ivan Linh each had 2 steals and scored 4, 4 and 2 points respectively. Cris Luistro hit a long 2 point jumper and a 3 pointer and finished with 6 points. The JV Hornets are now 9-8 overall and 2-2 in league play. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Hercules
January 12

Hornets 48, Titans 40

The JV Hornets faced a long and tall Hercules team at the Hornets Nest. The Titans were one of the best outside shooting teams that Alameda has seen this year. In a sea-saw contest that had many lead changes, the Hornets prevailed with a 48-40 win. To start the game, Elvedin Tudzinovic and Trent Yee worked the give and go and back door plays effectively. Trent scored the Hornet’s first 6 points and Elvedin scored their next 8. Aumen Holliday made a slashing move and hit a pretty floater and Alameda were ahead 16-9 after one quarter.

Alameda made few turnovers in the second quarter, but their shots were not falling. On the strength of good ball movement and strong Titan outside shooting, Hercules took a 27-22 half time lead. As the Hornets have done all season, they did not give up and started the 3rd quarter with a 7-0 run highlighted by a long range 3 point shot by Cris Luistro. Zack Alphers (5 rebounds) and Sam Kunz (7 rebounds) kept many Titan possessions to one shot by being aggressive on the boards. Alameda’s defense intensified and they led 31-30 after 3 quarters.

The Hornets remained aggressive for the rest of the game, scrambling and diving after lose balls. Zack’s rebound and put back fired up the Hornets and the crowd as did Elvedin’s tricky reverse lay up in traffic. Justin Dea guided the team well, made smart passes and added 4 points while running the point. Cameron Look and Aumen Holliday also were effective at the point guard position. With the win, the JV Hornets improve to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. De Anza
January 9

Hornets 58, Dons 47

The JV Hornets traveled to Pinole to take on De Anza. Alameda was very active to start the game resulting in 5 first quarter steals. Trent Yee had 3 steals for the game and a blocked shot and played aggressive defense throughout the game. With an 11-8 lead, Coach Felder substituted 5 new players with 3:30 left in the first quarter. That group clamped down on the Don’s allowing just 2 points and expanded the lead to 17-11 to finish the quarter. Andrew Mah collected 5 of his 6 rebounds in the quarter.

Then, however, De Anza started the 2nd quarter with an 8-0 run by capitalizing on Alameda turnovers. The Hornet defense picked up and ball movement improved including two crisp no look passes by Justin Dea playing the point. Momentum changed when Trent Yee hit a pull up jumper and Elvedin Tudzinovic, the game’s leading scorer with 12 points, found his shooting touch. Ivan Linh had a strong first half and finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds.

The Hornets started the 3rd quarter with a 34-25 lead and demonstrated a lot of energy and chased down loose balls. Zack Alphers had a strong overall game with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Aumen Holliday ran the point for much of the game and finished with 7 points. The Hornets had an 11 point 4th quarter lead, but the Don’s cut the lead to 4. Cris Luistro, who had 9 points and 2 assists, drove to the hoop and hit a couple jumpers to boost the Hornet lead. Sam Kunz led the team with 7 rebounds and contributed 2 steals and 5 points. By focusing on defense and with balanced scoring, the JV Hornets won 58-47. They are 1-1 in league play and 8-7 overall. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Berkeley
January 5

Hornets 48, Yellowjackets 61

The Alameda JV Men’s basketball teamed opened league play at home against rival Berkeley. The talented and athletic Yellow Jackets used their quickness and full court pressure to jump out to a 15-2 lead in the game’s first 5 minutes. From that point on, however, the Hornets never gave up and played Berkeley even. Alameda lost by 13 points: 61-48.

The second quarter saw sloppy play and turnovers by both teams. Alameda’s passing and rebounding improved later in the quarter, but their shots were not falling. Zack Alphers played aggressively throughout the game and led the team in scoring with 11 points and rebounds with 7. Elvedin Tudzinovic scored 9 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.

The Hornets started the 3rd quarter down 14, then Ivan Linh grabbed an offensive rebound and put back a lay up that cut the lead to 10 and seemed to spark Alameda. But Berkeley’s next play was a fast break 3 point play that slowed Alameda's momentum. Cris Luistro helped spark the Hornets with a 3rd quarter steal and lay up and a 4th quarter 3 pointer. Trent Yee had a couple 4th quarter steals, but Berkeley had an answer for each Alameda run. Ivan finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds. Sam Kunz contributed 4 points and 4 rebounds. Free throw shooting improved compared to prior games. Cameron Look and Brandon Morales were each 2 for 2 and Aumen Holliday was 3 for 4 from the line. The Hornets start league play 0-1, but can build on their strong play in the last 3 quarters of the Berkeley game. 

Submitted by: M. Kunz

vs. Tennyson
December 22

Hornets 63, Lancers 24

Game summary - if submitted - will go here. 

Hosting JV Winter Classic Tournament
December 17-19

GAME #1 - HORNETS 47, CONCORD 43

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

GAME #2 - HORNETS 35, McclyMONDS 57

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

GAME #3 - HORNETS 57, SKYLINE 61

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

vs. J.F. Kennedy
December 12

Hornets 52, JFK 29

The JV Hornets raced out to an 18-5 first quarter lead over J. F. Kennedy High on the Titans home court in Fremont. Alameda’s early success was due to assertive full court defensive pressure, excellent ball movement on offense and very balanced scoring. Kennedy scored six straight points to start the second quarter and cut the Hornet lead to 7 points. However, Alameda’s defense redoubled their efforts, forced many turnovers and increased their lead to 29-18 by half time.

Good ball movement, including two assists each by Cameron Look and Justin Dea resulted in easy baskets. Trent Yee was consistently around the ball and grabbed 4 rebounds and forced a couple of Titan turnovers. In the second half, the Hornet defense continued to play well, except for the last two minutes of the third quarter when JFK ran off six straight points. However, Alameda extended their lead in the fourth quarter and finished with a 52-29 final score.

Scoring was balanced throughout the game with 10 points each from Andrew Mah and Sam Kunz and 9 points from Elvedin Tudzinovic. Ivan Linh contributed 8 points and Zack Alphers finished with 7.

Submitted by: M. Kunz

@ Central Valley (Lehigh) Tournament - Redding
December 10-12

GAME #1 - HORNETS 41, PONDEROSA 32

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

GAME #2 - HORNETS 49, SHASTA 59 

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

GAME #3 - HORNETS 61, CENTRAL VALLEY 52 

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

vs. Clayton Valley
December 8

Hornets 68, Clayton Valley 75

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

vs. Concord
December 4

Hornets 58, Concord 61

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

vs. Benicia
December 2

Hornets 55, Benicia 60

Game summaries - if submitted - will go here.

Frosh

- St. Joes -
- Berkeley - Irvington - Tennyson - Concord - JFK/Fremont - Frosh Shootout - Clayton Valley - Piedmont Tourney - Miramonte -

vs. St. Joseph's
January 11

Hornets 63, Pilots 22

Further establishing their road-warrior reputation, the Hornets improved to 8-2 on the road and 11-5 overall with a thorough dismantling of the rival St. Joes Pilots. Frustrated by the Berkeley loss the week before, Alameda blitzed the Pilots from the opening jump and never looked back carving a 15-point lead by the end of the first quarter, 19-4. The Hornets were out to make a statement, playing tenacious defense and executing their offense to near perfection. Julian Lofton led the first quarter barrage with 9 points as well as 2 steals and 2 assists. Not much changed in the 2nd quarter, as St. Joe's only was able to muster 3 points in the period while Alameda threw in 16 to go in the half with a commanding 35-7 lead. Ernest Gardner and Scott Chahine each dropped in 6 points in the 2nd to lead the scoring.

In the 3rd period, Alameda exploded for its largest single-quarter point total of the season, dropping in 24 points. The Hornets unleashed the deep ball in the third, a weapon that his been lacking for most of the season. The 4 3-pointers were a season high for Alameda with 1 each coming from Julian Lofton, Chris Bussey, Almir Tudjinovich and Fred Smith. Tyler Yee scored 6 points in the quarter by way of the more traditional 2-point basket, while Bussey led the outburst with 7 points in the quarter, Pushing the lead to 40 points at the end of 3, 59-19. The 4th quarter passed by quickly as the running clock "mercy rule" was put in effect, with the final score 63-22.

Scott Chahine led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points. Julian Lofton and Chris Bussey contributed 9 points. Chahine's 8 rebounds led the team, while Bussey chipped in with 7 boards of his own. Fred Smith's 6 assists topped all Hornets.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Berkeley
January 5

Hornets 39, Yellowjackets 49

The Hornets five game winning streak was snapped at the hands of the visiting Yellowjackets, 46-39. Alameda got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 8 midway through the first quarter. However, Alameda rallied late in the first to cut the deficit to 2 by the end of the period, 14-12. Chris Bussey sparked the surge with 8 first quarter points. Both teams defenses settled in in the 2nd quarter, with neither side reaching double figures and Berkeley maintaining their 2-point lead into the half, 22-20.

The defenses took center stage again in the 3rd, with the 2 teams only combining for 12 points in the frame. Alameda had 7 of those points and went into the 4th quarter with Berkeley deadlocked at 27. Berkeley re-established control in the 4th quarter, using their size to pound the ball inside and get to the freethrow line. Berkeley shot 13 freethrows in the final period on their way to scoring 19 points in the quarter and eventually walking away with a hard-fought victory in the league opener for both teams.

Chris Bussey led the Hornets with 11 points, followed by Tyler Yee with 10. Scott Chahine's 9 rebounds led all Hornets.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Irvington
January 2

Hornets 52, Lancers 29

Allowing four 3-pointers and being down 14-6 late in the 1st quarter, the Freshman Hornets had the rust of a team that hadn't played in almost two weeks.

And then just like that, it was gone.

The Hornets scored 13 straight points bridging the 1st and 2nd quarters, and didn't allow another Irvington 3-pointer the rest of the night as they shook off the slow start to cruise to a 52-29 victory.

Alameda turned up the heat defensively after Irvington's hot start from deep, and Irvington could not handle it. Excellent perimeter defense from the likes of Chris Bussey and Julian Lofton took the Vikings out of their offense, and big men Tyler Yee, Theo Augustine, and Scott Chahine made sure no inside shot went uncontested. After closing with a 5 point spurt to finish the 1st quarter trailing by three 14-11, the Hornets ran away from the Vikings the 2nd, outscoring Irvington 21-7 in the period to go into the half leading 32-21. The 21-point outburst was the 2nd highest scoring quarter of the season for the Hornets, and was led by 9 points from Scott Chahine.

The defense cranked it up to another level in the 2nd half, allowing only 8 points for the rest of the game and only 1 made basket. Alameda continued to extend its lead as Tyler Yee chipped in 6 3rd quarter points and received scoring contributions from 5 other hornets in the 2nd half as the lead eventually grew to 23 as the game closed.

Scott Chahine had a very impressive game with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Tyler Yee contributed a double-double himself, tallying 12 points to go along with 10 boards. Chris Bussey and Fred Smith each dished out 4 assists to lead the team while Bussey also led the team in steals with 4.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Tennyson
December 22

Hornets 55, Lancers 14

Alameda has won 3 in a row after demolishing the Tennyson Lancers. Alameda's defense was in rare form, allowing absolutely nothing in the point, and forcing Tennyson to try and bomb away from deep, which they did unsuccessfully. After allowing 8 points in the first quarter, the Hornets only allowed 6 points the rest of the game, including shutting out Tennyson in the 3rd quarter. A 3-point first quarter lead quickly swelled to 11 by halftime, and the 14-0 third quarter put the game out of reach. The Hornets were monstrous on the glass, corralling 59 for the game, including 7 from Olisa Chibueze, 10 from Theo Augustine, and a freshman record 20 from Scott Chahine. Chahine also pitched in 10 points for his 5th double-double of the season. Chris Bussey led all scorers with 13 and Tyler Yee contributed 9 to the cause. Alameda has now won 3 games straight and 8 of their last 9 to improve to 8-4 on the year with league play starting early in the new year.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Concord
December 19

Hornets 49, Concord 47

After one of their worst performances of the season against JFK-Fremont, the Frosh Hornets followed it up with perhaps their best in taking a victory from a very good Concord team on the road, 49-47.

With only 9 players suited up, the Hornets were going to need heavy minutes and contributions from everyone, and they got it. This game was a back and forth affair, with neither team ever leading by more than 5 points. Alameda used their zone defense to great effect, limiting Concord's drives to the basket and forcing them into low-percentage perimeter jumpers. This allowed Alameda to enter the forth with a 5-point lead, 37-32. The game once again went down to the wire, and up 2 with time winding down, Alameda forced Concord into a straightaway 3 that was severely long, and the Hornets had themselves another nail-biter W. Chris Bussey led the team with 12 points, while Scott Chahine and Julian Lofton followed with 10 and 9.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. JFK / Fremont
December 15

Hornets 42, Fremont 41

Perhaps still rattled by the heartbreaking championship loss the Saturday before, the Hornets plaid a sloppy game, blew an early lead, yet still got the defensive stops necessary to escape JFK-Fremont with a 42-41 victory.

Alameda used its significant size advantage from the outset, feeding post players Tyler Yee and Scott Chahine early en route to taking an early 10-2 lead, finishing the quarter up 7, 13-6. In the 2nd, however, the Hornets got away from their game plan, unwisely falling into an up tempo pace which led to many turnovers. The Hornets were able to maintain their 7 point lead going into the half with the score 23-16.

Alameda continued to be lured by the sirens of the fast paced game, and continued to see their lead dwindle with turnover after turnover leading to Kennedy baskets. with 2 minutes left to go in the game a Tyler Yee basket gave the Hornets a 42-36 lead. Kennedy fought back with a 2-pointer and a fade-away 3 on its next two possessions, and had the ball with 20 seconds left to play. However, Alameda's defense stood tall when it had to and forced an off balance jumper from the left wing that came up short, and the Hornets rebounded the ball as time expired to secure the victory. Chahine and Yee both had double-doubles for Alameda, tallying 16-and-13, and 16-and-10 respectively.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

Hosting Frosh "Shootout" Tournament - 2nd Place
December 10-12

- Hornet game summaries - 

GAME #1 - HORNETS 57, Head Royce 40

The Frosh Hornets jumped over Head Royce from the opening tip and cruised to an easy victory in the opening round of the Alameda Freshman Tournament. Alameda came ready to play, scoring almost at will in the first quarter and finishing up with a 19-5 lead. Scott Chahine led the way with 10 points in the quarter, and the Hornets never looked back. The lead never got into single digits as the entire Hornets roster saw plenty of game action. 5 players scored 8 or more points in a balanced scoring attack that proved far too much for Head Royce, with the final score being 57-40. Chahine paced the team with 14 points, and Julian Lofton had his highest scoring output of the season with 12, including 2 3-pointers.

GAME #2 - HORNETS 35, Salesian 29 

In an old-school, rough house, defensive basketball game, the Hornets showed their grit and toughness in grinding out a very impressive 35-29 victory over a very talented Salesian High School to advance to the tournament championship. This was a defensive struggle right from the outset, as each team only scored 1 basket in the entire first quarter, yet the hornets held a slim 4-3 lead after one. It was more of the same in the 2nd quarter, with neither team being able to string together very many points, and both teams went into the half tied at 13.

After taking a one-point lead into the 4th, 19-18, the Hornet offense finally found its groove, putting in 16 points in the quarter to secure the victory. F/C Theo Augustine was huge down the stretch, scoring all 7 of his points in the 4th quarter while grabbing 4 rebounds in the final frame. Tyler Yee went 4-of-6 from the Free Throw line down the stretch to seal the game, and Chris Bussey added 5 points including a crucial 3 pointer early in the period to give the hornets the lead for the final time. Yee led the hornets with 11 points while Bussey contributed 10.

GAME #3 - HORNETS 43, MOREAU CATHOLIC 47

After getting off to hot starts in each of their 5 straight victories, Alameda's early season habit of getting down early reared its ugly head, and while the hornets fought back valiantly, they couldn't close the game out and Moreau-Catholic won the finals of the Alameda Freshman Tournament.

The 1st quarter was not a good one for the hornets, as they quickly fell behind, and finished the quarter down 8, 14-6. Starting guard Julian Lofton picked up two quick fouls in the 1st, and was hampered by foul trouble all game. Halfway through the 2nd period the Hornets were on the verge of letting the game slip away as the Moreau lead expanded to16 with the score 27-11. Alameda closed the 1st half on a strong note, cutting the lead down to 11 and went into halftime with the score standing at 29-18.

In the 3rd quarter the Hornets finally put their game together crawled all the way back. Chris Bussey and Tyler Yee each scored 6 points in the quarter, as Alameda's stifling defense held Moreau to just 6 points the entire quarter. Going into the 4th the Hornets were only down one, 35-34.

However, after tying the game early in the 4th quarter at 36, Moreau began to reassert themselves on both ends of the floor, cracking the Hornets man defense, and switching zones to cause Alameda problems on the offensive end. Alameda's perimeter shooting was nowhere to be found, and Moreau wound up with a 47-43 victory and the tournament championship.

Alameda's Tyler Yee had a heroic game in defeat, scoring 20 points making all 8 of his free-throw attempts in the game. Chris Bussey contributed 11 to the scoring.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Clayton Valley
December 8

Hornets 49, Clayton Valley 28

The Frosh Hornets had their best defensive performance of the season on their way to a blow-out victory over the Clayton Valley Eagles. Coming off 2 straight victories to finish off the Piedmont Tournament, Alameda got off to a quick start against the Eagles, jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the first 2 minutes. The Hornets had a size advantage at all 5 positions and used it to great effect, pounding the ball inside and getting to the free throw line, where they were 12-of-15 in the 1st quarter. Tyler Yee and Chris Bussey combined for 13 of the 16 Hornet points in the first quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, the Hornets defense turned the heat up a notch, holding Clayton Valley to only 3 points in the quarter. Julian Lofton completely disrupted the Eagle offense with his length atop the 1-2-2 zone, and the rotation of Hornet guards provided no relief to the Clayton Valley wings. With the opponents scoring held to a minimum the Hornets were able to extend the lead to 12 by halftime with a 26-14 lead.

For the 2nd straight game, the hornets came out in the 3rd quarter and put away a team they had on the ropes. The defense had no let-up, holding Clayton Valley to only 6 points in the quarter, while the offense used a balanced attack to score 14 with baskets from 5 different players. That 3rd quarter run pushed the lead to 20 points entering the final period, and the Hornets continued on with more of the same in the 4th, winning with a final score of 49-28.

The Hornets were led in scoring by Tyler Yee with 14 and Chris Bussey with 11. Theo Augustine played for the first time since the first game of the season, after recovering from a sprained shoulder. He had a very impressive return with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Scott Chahine led the Hornets in rebounds and steals with 8 and 4 respectively. Fred Smith's 3 assists topped Alameda.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

@ Piedmont Tournament
December 3-5

GAME #3 vs. UNIVERSITY/SF
Hornets 65, University 34

After going down to the wire the night before for their first victory, the Frosh Hornets led for all 32 minutes in this runaway victory in the consolation bracket championship game. Everything was clicking for the Hornets against University, as all 10 healthy players scored and saw significant playing time.

The Hornets jumped out to an 8-2 to lead early in the 1st quarter thanks to the 1-2-2 zone which worked so well in their victory the night before. However, University’s ball movement started to crack the zone, and Alameda finished the quarter holding on to a 16-11 lead. Chris Bussey kicked off the scoring, putting in 6 points in the quarter, as Tyler Yee contributed 4.

After switching to a man defense early in the 2nd quarter, the defense picked up and the Hornets extended their lead. The scoring was balanced, as six hornets scored in the quarter, and none had more than 4 points. Going into half time, Alameda had an 11-point lead, 31-20.

In the 3rd quarter, the Hornets asserted the dominance and quickly put the game out of reach. With the Defense cranking it up to an elite level, the offense pounded the ball inside to Center Scott Chahine, who had 10 points in the quarter. Forwards Tyler Yee and Alex Chan combined to score 6 points as University had absolutely no answer for the Hornets power game. At the end of the quarter, the Hornets had outscored University 23-7, pushing the score to 54-27, and the rout was on. The stifling defense continued into the 4th, as Alameda pushed the lead over 30, and cruised on in to a dominating 65-34 victory.

Alameda had 3 players in double figures, as Scott Chahine led the scoring with 15 points, and Tyler Yee and Chris Bussey pitched in 10 each. Chahine tied for the team lead with 11 rebounds with F/C Denzel Johnson, who also contributed 7 points to the victory. Olisa Chibueze chipped in his 1st 3 points of the year to go with a couple rebounds, and Almir Tudjinovic tied for the team lead with assists to go with 4 points. PG’s Chris Bussey and Fred Smith did an excellent job taking care of the ball, committing only 1 turnover between them.

GAME #2 vs. SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
Hornets 45, Pirates 44

After failing on their first 3 attempts this season, the Hornets finally broke through with a thrilling come from behind victory over the Drake Pirates in the 2nd round of the Piedmont Invitational Tournament. This game was nip and tuck all the way, with neither team acquiring a lead of more than 5 at any point in the game. The Hornets finally shed their pattern of slow starts, jumping out to a 10-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. A 3-pointer from Ernest Gardner and 5-of-8 shooting from the free throw line highlighted the 1st quarter scoring.

In the 2nd quarter, Drake started to solve the Hornets man-to-man defense, scoring 14 points in the quarter, cutting the Alameda lead to 2 by halftime, 21-19. Scott Chahine had 7 points in the 1st half and went 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. Alameda, shooting only 42.7% coming in, was 8-of-13 on free throws in the first half.

Drake’s dissection of the Alameda defense continued in the 3rd quarter as the Pirates rolled up 16 points to take a 35-31 lead into the 4th quarter. Early in the 4th Alameda, switched defenses from man to a 1-2-2 zone, and started to gain momentum. Ernest Gardner, Chris Bussey, Fred Smith, Alex Chan, and Julian Lofton all played tenacious defense on the perimeter of the zone, forcing multiple turnovers down the stretch as Alameda cut the lead down to 1. The Hornets still trailed by one with 30 seconds left when Julian Lofton harassed Drake’s ball handler into the corner where Chris Bussey was waiting to trap. Bussey eventually came out with the ball pushed the ball the length of the court, getting fouled on a lay-up attempt with 15.2 seconds left. Bussey calmly stepped to the line and nailed both free throws to give Alameda a one-point lead. As time was running down, Lofton’s length at the top of the zone cut off all passing lanes for Drake’s point guard, and the opponent could only muster an off-balance 3-point attempt that failed to hit the rim as time expired, and Alameda emerged with its 1st victory of the season.

Chris Bussey led the hornets with 12 points. Denzel Johnson had a strong game off the bench to lead the team in rebounds with 6, and Scott Chahine tallied 4 steals in the victory.

GAME #1 vs. MARIN CATHOLIC 
Hornets 40, Marin Catholic 55

The Frosh Hornets lost to Marin-Catholic in the 1st Round of the Piedmont Invitational Tournament to fall to 0-3 on the year. The Hornets had issues protecting the ball, committing 33 turnovers, which helped Marin-Catholic to a season-high 55 points. An ankle injury to Power Forward Tyler Yee early in the 2nd quarter left a gaping hole for the Hornets, which was not filled. Sub-par free-throw shooting didn’t help matters, as Alameda went 12-for-30 from the line.

Chris Bussey led the Hornets with 9 points. Scott Chahine paced the team with 13 rebounds.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Benicia
December 2

Hornets 45, Benicia 49

The shorthanded Hornets suffered another painful loss against Benicia. Suiting up only 9 players, the Hornets had their work cut out for them playing their first road game of the season. A slow start compounded their issues, as Benicia raced out to a 16-10 lead after the first quarter. The Hornets settled down and played Benicia to a near stand-still in the second quarter, but still ended the half down 7, 24-17. Cold shooting from the free-throw line contributed greatly to the deficit, as Alameda was only 3-for-11 from the charity stripe in the first half.

In the third quarter, however, the Hornets stepped things up and quickly erased the deficit. Playing stifling defense, the Hornets only gave up 4 points to Benicia in the quarter, and got buckets from 5 different players to turn the 7 point half-time deficit into a 5 point lead going into the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the heavy minutes logged, plus injuries to Tyler Yee and Alex Chan in the 4th quarter eroded the defense and allowed Benicia to take a 3 point lead with less than a minute to play. A 3-point attempt from Ernest Gardner clanged off the back rim with 15 seconds left, and the Hornets finally fell to Benicia 49-45.

The Hornets were led in scoring by Scott Chahine with 11, Tyler Yee with 9, and Ernest Gardner with 8.

Submitted by Coach Olveira

vs. Miramonte
November 28

Hornets 40, Miramonte 47

The home opener didn't go according to plan for the Freshman Hornets. Down two players and coming off the Thanksgiving holiday, the Hornets got off to a slow start, only to make a furious comeback attempt that fell just short. The Hornets offense couldn't get going early, scoring only 12 points in the first half on 6/22 shooting and 0/6 from the free throw line. However, some tight defense from the hornets kept the Hornets only down 9 at the half, 21-12. In the 3rd Quarter the Hornets finally started to heat up, scoring 15 points and cutting the lead to 5 by the end of the quarter, 32-27. The Hornets continued their charge early into the 4th, led by Tyler Yee's 12 second half points and knotted the game up at 35 a piece. From there, however, Miramonte reasserted control, hitting on 7 of 9 free throws in the quarter, and the hornets offense couldn't keep up. The Miramonte lead closed to 7 only in the closing seconds as Alameda was forced to foul to try and extend the game.

The Hornets were led in scoring by Tyler Yee and Chris Bussey with 16 and 13, respectively. Scott Chahine led the team in rebounds with 7 and was also the leader in assists with 2. Chris Bussey paced the Hornets in steals with a six-pack.

Submitted by Coach Olveira