NCS FINALS PREVIEW: Clayton Valley Faces Dougherty Valley For Section Title

Can't make it to the game? Clayton Patch Editor Patrick Creaven will be live blogging the game from San Ramon.

The North Coast Section Division II title game will be played at Dougherty Valley High School between No. 1-seeded Dougherty Valley and No. 2-seeded Clayton Valley on Friday at 7pm.

The battle of the valleys between two schools on the 680 corridor promises to be epic, as the Eagles’ enter the game riding a 21 game winning streak, while the Wildcats have a 19-gamer of their own.

The location of the game has already drawn the ire of the Clayton Valley faithful, many of whom believe the game should be played at a neutral location (like most of the other NCS basketball championships) and not at their opponents home floor in San Ramon.

The home court advantage should give Dougherty a significant advantage.

Dougherty has defeated opponents by an average of 24 points and only lost to two opponents all season, one being La Jolla Dountry Day (San Diego) and Regis Jesuit (Colorado). They defeated every local team they played including powerhouse Archbishop Mitty, who is playing tonight in the Central Coast D-2 finals.

The Wildcats also claim a significant advantage in strength of schedule as five teams from the Diablo Foothill Athletic league made the NCS playoffs, while only two teams from the DVAL qualified.

However, all that analysis does not account for the tremendous talent, potential and coaching on the Clayton side. Eagles’ coach Bernard Barnes has one of the best ball-hawking defenses in Northern California. The team has the ability to kill an opponent with steals and a lightening quick transition game.

The Eagles’ are also balanced with up to seven players contributing in any given game. Their top four players, Karley Menez, Ashley Allen, Molly Kommer and Sarah Nelson all compliment each other well and provide an extreme diversity of talent.

Clayton has the size of Dougherty foe Campolindo, with 6-foot-4 center Nelson and 5-foot-11 forward Molly Kommer. But they have wildcards on the wings with Allen’s tremendous court vision and slashing ability combined with Menez’s pure outside shot.

The difference between the two teams is Rayven Brooks the DFAL two-time MVP and spectacular senior. She has scored against nearly every team but she also has game changing defensive ability. In the semifinals against Dublin, Brooks came up with eight steals.

The Wildcats will combat Kommer and Nelson with the strong post duo of Treyvonne Brooks and Caroline Hughes. Hughes, a 6-foot-2 forward, who had a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinals, could very well be the x-factor in the championship match-up.