In an epic battle, the No. 4 seeded Diablo Valley women's basketball team staved off No. 13 Contra Costa 82-80 in overtime Friday night in Round 2 of the CCCAA Northern regional playoffs.
What a game between district rivals.
"The district could not have asked for better entertainment," DVC coach Ramaundo Vaughn said. "If a guy was watching that game and he was not a fan of women's basketball going into it, I think his perception changed. The lead had to change at least 25 times in the second half. It was just back-and-forth."
The Vikings' Brandy Williams, a freshman out of Deer Valley High, had another monster game with 22 points and 18 rebounds, but this battle was memorable on many levels.
The Comets (21-10) rallied from five down in the final 14 seconds of regulation to force overtime.
Vaughn couldn't say enough good things about the Comets, guided by coach Paul DeBolt, a friend who's headed the program since 1986.
"He couldn't have asked for better than what those kids gave last night," Vaughn said of DeBolt.
Fiercely competitive and skilled, Williams would not be denied, playing all 45 minutes. Raeona Ford (19 points) was an impressive 6 for 7 from 3-point range, and Cecila Cuneo (six points, five rebounds, two assists) was also outstanding in the clutch.
"That kid is the biggest story of the year," Vaughn said of Cuneo, who joined the team in the middle of the season. "You don't just come off the street and contribute to a really a good team, it just doesn't happen, but she has ice water in her veins."
DVC (21-9) will host the winner of the Chabot-Sacramento City in Round 3 on March 2.
Vaughn said the Vikings, who finished tied for second in the Big 8 Conference, did not match the Comets' intensity overall.
"It seemed like their best offense was taking a shot and going in and getting the offensive rebound," Vaughn said of the Comets. "We didn't match their intensity. They played harder than we did, and tougher. We did not bring the same toughness. Sometimes, the best team on that night doesn't win, as crazy as that sounds."
