Prep basketball: San Ramon Valley dedicates season to ill coach, starts 2023 with a win
DANVILLE — San Ramon Valley’s boys basketball players and coaches collectively cheered and hollered from the bench after each of Luke Isaak’s seven three-pointers in Thursday’s 89-79 win over Oakland.
But one voice was noticeably absent among the sideline cacophony.
Longtime assistant coach Hans de Lannoy, who has battled cancer for several years and recently entered hospice care, wanted to join the team for its first game since winning a premier division at The Classic at Damien in Southern California last week.
“We’re playing the season for him,” said Isaak, MVP of the SoCal tournament.
While de Lannoy was ultimately unable to attend, the players hoped their winning performance would make him smile once the team called de Lannoy on the phone later that evening.
“He means everything to us,” senior guard Parker McClaughry said. “He has done everything for us, so now it’s our turn to give back to him. We’re trying to give him something to be happy about and help him keep going.”
Oakland coach Orlando Watkins has faced San Ramon Valley four times in the last five seasons and said de Lannoy’s presence was missed.
“My prayers go out to him and his family,” Watkins said.
Oakland point guard Te’Shawn Gamble scored six of his 20 points in the first quarter and helped keep the Wildcats, ranked No. 17 in the Bay Area News Group Top 20, within striking distance early on.
But No. 2 San Ramon Valley took control in the second quarter behind Isaak’s sizzling shooting.
The sophomore connected on four three-pointers as he scored 16 of his team’s 20 points to send the Wolves to the locker room with a 35-27 lead.
Isaak poured in another 14 in the third to help give the Wolves a 64-45 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The sharpshooter was equally comfortable shooting triples running off screens, trailing on the break and spotting up in the corner.
His perpetual motion exemplified the San Ramon Valley offense, which was a whirling five-man act of passing and movement.
“Luke is a pretty special player,” SRV coach Brian Botteen said after Isaak scored 30 points. “It’s fun to watch him develop each and every game, and for a guy who has only played 16 varsity games in his career, he is pretty confident.”
Oakland gave the home team everything it could handle in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to as low as seven (72-65) behind a flurry by guard Money Williams.
The senior guard scored 15 of his team-high 26 in the last eight minutes, utilizing a variety of drives and pull-up jumpers to give his team a chance. It was a spirited comeback attempt for an Oakland (11-5) squad Watkins described as lacking consistency.
“We’re not ready for league play yet,” said Watkins, whose team won the Damian Lillard Classic during the winter break and starts OAL play against Skyline on Wednesday.
McClaughry’s incredible performance at the free throw line kept the Wildcats at bay. The senior captain made 13 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter alone to secure SRV’s 15th win in 16 games.
San Ramon Valley’s ability to close out a game from the line will doubtlessly help the Wolves in East Bay Athletic League play, which Botteen called “the best league in California.”
San Ramon Valley’s first EBAL challenge will come at home on Tuesday against Dougherty Valley, the No. 1 team in the Bay Area News Group rankings.
Dougherty Valley spent last week in San Diego at the Torrey Pines Classic, where it won three games against high-profile opponents and lost only one to finish third.
San Ramon Valley’s players are ready for the showdown between the Bay Area’s top two teams.
“They’ve got three amazing players who can all do everything,” Isaak said, referencing Dougherty Valley’s guard trio of Ryan Beasley, Conner Sevilla and Blake Hudson. “It’s gonna be a fun game.”
Dougherty Valley is just one of six EBAL teams currently ranked in the Top 20 that San Ramon Valley will have to face.
Getting through such a gauntlet is going to be tough. But Botteen said that de Lannoy has unshakable faith in the team that has dedicated the season to him.
“He says ‘It’s the year of the wolf.’”