SAN RAMON – As Dougherty Valley’s starting lineup was announced, the California High student section turned their backs on their crosstown rivals in a gesture of friendly gamesmanship before the start of Friday’s big game. 

Had they known the final outcome, the group of rowdy students might have had their backs turned the entire time. 

In a highly-anticipated matchup between two of the East Bay Athletic League’s top teams, Dougherty Valley smoked host California 73-44 behind hot shooting and suffocating defense from the Wildcats’ top players. 

“We own this town,” Dougherty Valley coach Mike Hansen said. “We have a chip on our shoulder any time we hear that this game is the Battle of San Ramon.

“This is our town. From the deep hills to the freeway. We’ve been winning a long time since we got here. So, I think our guys wanted to come in on the road and make a statement.”

Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) goes up for a dunk against California in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

Dougherty Valley star Jalen Stokes had a game-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Shooting guard Rashod Cotton Jr. totaled 14 points in his first game back since suffering a hamstring injury two weeks ago. Senior point guard Cole Roque added 10 points and five assists. 

Emeka Ifediora had a team-high 14 points for Cal, which was held to just 14 points in the first half. 

“We were a little off rhythm,” Cal coach Steve Ohlmeyer said. “Give them credit. We’re playing really well right now. They came out ready to play and we weren’t.” 

After building a 10-point lead after the first eight minutes of play, Dougherty Valley built an insurmountable lead in the second quarter. 

The Wildcats started the period with a 14-2 run, taking a 32-10 lead with two minutes left. 

With all the attention on Stokes, Dougherty Valley found scoring from Roque, Cotton and Freshman Alonzo Walker. The Wildcats’ array of aggressive guards gave Cal problems on both ends.

Dougherty Valley forced 11 first half turnovers and stole six passes that turned into easy buckets on offense. 

Dougherty Valley’s Cole Roque (5) steals the ball as California’s Harrison Park (2) chases him in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

By halftime, Dougherty Valley held a 36-14 lead. 

The second half was more of the same. 

Six different players scored a basket for Dougherty Valley in the third quarter as California had no answer for the Wildcats’ fast-paced attack. 

With the California crowd standing silent for most of the second half, the Wildcats took the opportunity to build their lead even further. 

Stokes scored on a fastbreak dunk in the fourth to give Dougherty Valley a 64-36 lead. Later in the period, Cotton knocked down a 3-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 30-point lead – their biggest of the night. 

For Dougherty Valley, Friday’s win only further confirmed what they already thought going into the game. 

“We really think we’re the best team in the EBAL,” Stokes said. “We had to come out and show it if we really meant that. I think we showed it tonight.”

California’s Anish Chilikuri (34) battles Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) for a loose ball in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

Along with Cotton, Dougherty Valley also got big man Azan Evans back into the rotation. The 6-foot-5 big man returned to the team earlier in the week after an injury kept him out for most of the year. 

The Wildcats struggled at times with rebounding and rim protection, but Evans’ presence gives Dougherty Valley a much needed post player on both ends heading into the postseason. Evans finished with five points and six rebounds, playing most of the second and third quarter. 

“He gives us depth and another guy who can rebound,” Hansen said. “He’s another big body in there that could set screens for Jalen too. He’s just super athletic.”

While Dougherty Valley struggled without Stokes to start the season, the Wildcats seem to be clicking at the right time. The San Ramon school has won seven straight and nine of its last 10 games. 

“We’re starting to defend at a high level,” Hansen said. “That was my worry with this group. We had a lot of really good offensive players, but were they willing to sit and guard people? We really locked that up tonight. If we do that, we’re going to be tough to beat.

Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen reacts to a call against California while playing in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Dougherty Valley’s Jalen Stokes (2) goes up for a dunk against California in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen prepares to huddle up with his players while playing California in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
California head coach Steve Ohlmeyer talks to his players during a timeout against Dougherty Valley in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Dougherty Valley’s Rashod Cotton II (13) goes up for a layup past California’s Anish Chilikuri (34) in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
California head coach Steve Ohlmeyer coaches from the bench against Dougherty Valley in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Dougherty Valley’s Cole Roque (5) shoots and scores a layup past California’s Sib Sankar (1) in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Dougherty Valley head coach Mike Hansen watches players take on California in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
California’s Brayde Kuykendall (3) leaps to catch a pass while being guarded by Dougherty Valley’s Rashod Cotton II (13) in the first half of their game at California High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)