CONCORD — Frank Allocco Jr. constructed his group for moments akin to this one.
When it arrived Tuesday night time — tense semifinal playoff recreation at residence towards Bishop O’Dowd with the season probably on the road — his Clayton Valley Constitution gamers had been prepared for the problem.
They elevated their play within the third quarter to offer themselves somewhat respiration room and held on for a 68-58 victory that moved them into the North Coast Part Division I ultimate on Saturday night time at high seed Dougherty Valley, which beat Moreau Catholic 68-65 within the different semifinal.
Jeremiah Dargan was in all places for the second-seeded Ugly Eagles (20-9) within the momentum-turning quarter, blocking photographs, grabbing rebounds, handing out assists and carrying a heavy scoring load.
The senior scored 13 of his 19 factors within the third quarter, together with three three-point performs.
“It’s type of what he’s completed all yr,” Allocco stated. ” I nonetheless assume he’s a man that individuals don’t respect sufficient. Hopefully, he’s going to maintain exhibiting that over the following couple of weeks. Tremendous completely happy for him.
“However he’s at all times been our rock defensively and rebounding. He’s actually discovered tips on how to play this yr. Not simply scoring, however making the best go. He was phenomenal.” 
Trailing 29-26 at halftime, O’Dowd got here out of the locker room with somewhat spurt. However after the Dragons grabbed their solely lead of the second half, 33-31, on a layup by Daniel Wilson, Clayton Valley began to sizzle.
Jake King buried a 3-pointer that reclaimed the lead for the Ugly Eagles.
Then Dargan crashed the boards to drag down a rebound and alertly fed Jason Zimmer for a layup.
Moments later, Dargan stole the ball and drove by means of the lane for a layup with a defender in his path.
Fouled on the play, he sank the free throw.
“We knew that recreation was going to be about runs,” Dargan stated. “We put collectively a fairly good one within the third quarter and that’s what acquired us the win.”
By the point the quarter ended, Clayton Valley led 53-44.
O’Dowd (17-6) didn’t get nearer than seven factors the remainder of the best way because the guests noticed their profitable streak finish at 14 video games.
“They acquired the momentum and made some large photographs,” O’Dowd coach Lou Richie stated. “We made some turnovers. They made some large threes. We couldn’t cease their penetration. They had been extra bodily than we had been. We wanted calls from the refs that didn’t go our approach.”
Clayton Valley’s starters scored all however two of the group’s factors. James Moore and King every completed with 13, Zimmer had 12 and Mason Bamberger chipped in with 9.
Amos Hodgson made six 3-pointers on his option to 24 factors for O’Dowd. Cameron Brown added 17 factors for the Dragons.
O’Dowd may have clinched a spot in subsequent week’s Northern California regional had it gained. Now the Oakland powerhouse must wait till Sunday to see if it will get the additional NCS bid.
The part receives 13 spots for its high 4 divisions. All six groups within the Open routinely advance, as do the finalists in Divisions I, II and III. That leaves one spot for a semifinal loser.
“In my 20 years, this group improved greater than another group,” Richie stated. “To be a group that might probably have been a sub-.500 group to creating it to the Division I semifinals and we nonetheless have an opportunity to play one other recreation.”
Clayton Valley is aware of it can proceed to play subsequent week, however will or not it's as an NCS champion or runner-up?
“One factor I’ll say about our guys, they’ve actually believed in that message from me that it’s not about December, it’s not about January,” Allocco stated. “We at all times say March although now it’s somewhat sooner. We’re males of March. That’s what we’re getting ready for. I used to be actually happy with them and I really feel like all that studying we did all year long is admittedly actually clicking on the proper time.”
Photographs: Clayton Valley 68, Bishop O’Dowd 58
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