San Ramon Valley’s Seamus Deely (15) battles Monte Vista for a rebound in the second quarter of their game at Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. San Ramon Valley defeated Monte Vista 62-53. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
DANVILLE – Defenders, taunts from the raucous Monte Vista student section and pressure to win the rivalry game against a crosstown foe..
They all bounced right off burly San Ramon Valley forward Seamus Deely in the Wolves’ 62-53 victory at Monte Vista on Friday night.
The senior leader, a player that coach Brian Botteen said belonged on the “Mt. Rushmore” of players he’s coached at SRV, scored 11 points and had a spectacular coast-to-coast layup after blocking a shot.
But his contribution to the victory went far beyond just putting the ball in the hoop. Deely was a stout rim-protector down low and a willing passer in the high post. And when his teammates missed a shot, it always seemed like the 6-foot-6 leader would quiet the Mustang supporters by grabbing an offensive board.
“This was one of the loudest environments I’ve played in, so it feels good to come out on top of that,” Deely said after the victory over SRV’s East Bay Athletic League rival. “I’m in my fourth year of playing varsity basketball, so I’d like to think that I have some veteran experience out there.”
Monte Vista (20-6, 4-5) certainly was energized by the fans, in particular the lively student section. The only time the Mustangs’ classmates stayed quiet was when they pretended to read a newspaper during SRV’s pre-game introductions.
Monte Vista led 12-10 after the first quarter, each bucket followed by cheers so loud that one spectator’s smartwatch warned him that being exposed to such noise levels could cause temporary hearing loss.
SRV was well-represented too, packing out the visiting section with green-and-gold clad students. Both sides watched a well-played game, with SRV entering halftime up 28-27 as the two sides traded baskets and big plays.
“Both student bodies were fantastic, and I think it’s just a great example of the rivalry,” Mustang coach Nick Jones said.
When senior guard Sean McDonnell hit a layup to put SRV up 43-35 with two minutes left in the third quarter, capping a 9-0 run, the Mustangs didn’t quit. Instead, Alex Long drilled a midrange shot and Kyle Nishikawa buried a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to three entering the fourth period.
“My guys battled, and I’ll go to battle with those guys any day of the week,” Jones said.
Led by senior guard Daniel Cojocaru’s game-high 18 points, Monte Vista kept it competitive until late in the fourth quarter. But after Matt Diekmann’s 18 points and Elliott Conley’s incessant hustle and effort kept the Wolves in the lead, Deely and Isaak closed the Mustangs out.
Deely made it 53-47 with a soft hook shot taken and made right in front of the rim. Then sharpshooter Isaak, who had gotten off to a slow start, splashed back-to-back triples, holding his follow-through and a smile as he ran back down the court after the second one made it 59-47.
“It felt good, because that was a rough start,” Isaak said. “Usually those easy ones fall. But it was good to come back and make those big threes down the stretch.”
After losing to fellow EBAL heavyweights Granada and De La Salle by identical 60-58 scores over the past week, SRV ended the regular season with a victory and a 7-2 league record.
While the league playoffs still take place next week, the Wolves have almost certainly punched their ticket into the six-team North Coast Section Open Division bracket, and a guaranteed spot in NorCal play, with the victory.
“I definitely feel like we’re in that discussion,” Botteen said, adding, “We’re in the best league that there is in Northern California.”
