Boys basketball: Archie Williams unable to recover in loss to Acalanes

There was a moment or two when Archie Williams High seemed destined for a comeback in Tuesday’s opening round of the North Coast Section Division I boys basketball playoffs.

Those moments, however, were fleeting and unrealized as the No. 8 Peregrine Falcons never recovered from a rickety start en route to a 66-55 setback against visiting No. 9 Acalanes (Lafayette).

“We dug ourselves too big of a hole,” first-year-head coach Mike Clagett said. “It’s just that simple. If you give a good team like that a 16-point lead the odds of coming back are stacked against you.”

After the Dons (18-11) scored four points on the initial play of the game (a three-point basket and a converted free throw) the Falcons seemed to be on the wrong side of the roulette wheel from the get-go.

“Our attention to detail was lacking for the whole game,” said senior team captain Meezy Butler, who led the Falcons in points (18) and rebounds (seven). “We did not play with our usual energy, especially in the first half.”

On the other hand, the Dons, who lost twice to Archie Williams at tournaments in December, were the energy bunnies in the early going.

Acalanes, cashed in on five Archie Williams’ turnovers and knocked down four three-point shots in the opening period to grab a commanding 21-9 lead on Cameron Hood’s late three-pointer.

While the end of the first quarter was nothing to brag about for the Falcons, the end of the second period might have been more devastating.

Despite five more turnovers in the quarter, Archie Williams rallied to within seven points after Devin Moss canned a three-point shot with 3:04 remaining before intermission.

Instead of seizing the momentum, however, the Falcons gave it right back.

Cameron Hood, who led all scorers with 22 points, converted three-of-four free throws.

Moments later, Archie Williams’ 10th turnover of the first half turned into a three-point basket at the other end of the floor.

As time expired in the half, Acalanes’ Jon McCleod tossed up a hope-and-a-prayer three-pointer at the buzzer. The shot was all net and the Dons suddenly led by 16 points again.

“We knew they were a good three-point shooting team and part of our game plan was not to allow uncontested three-point shots,” Clagett said. “And I’m pretty sure both of those were uncontested three-pointers.”

Archie Williams chipped away at the lead in the third period behind the hot hand of Gabe Cerio – he scored seven of his nine points in the quarter – and the Falcons trailed by 13 entering the final eight minutes.

The Falcons, suddenly playing with all the intensity they lacked in the early going, forced three quick turnovers. But the Falcons could not find a hot hand when they needed it most, squandering several opportunities to reel in their opponents.

Archie Williams did cut the deficit to six points with less than a minute remaining on an aggressive rebound by Moss and a quick pass to Butler for a three-point basket.

The Falcons had a chance to creep even closer when they forced the Dons’ sixth turnover of the period on the next possession. Again, however, a missed shot at the other end of the floor spoiled the moment.

Four Acalanes players reached double-figures in scoring. Grady Stewart scored 13 points for the Falcons.