Alameda 48

Berkeley 46

Everything fell into place for the Alameda Hornets last Friday, as they avenged a 32 point trouncing to perennial nemesis Berkeley just three weeks ago with a 48-46 upset win.

"We really stuck to our game plan tonight," said coach Allen Nakamura afterwards. That they did; slowing the pace of the game by playing a tight zone defense and not forcing shots on the offensive end.

In the first half, Anthony Waters and Shawn Johnson stepped up with 7 points apiece in place of usual leading scorer Taylor Takahashi. Damien Stowers held his own against a bigger Yellowjacket front court, and was aided by Jared Tatman, a senior playing in just his second game.

Berkeley kept pace with junior forward Jalil Eppenger, who knocked down three first-half treys, and center Khufu Najee, who had seven of his game high 18 before intermission.

The game went back and forth well into the third quarter, but Juan Neri and Takahashi found their stroke and sent the Hornets on an 8-0 run to end the period.

Ahead 38-34, Tatman opened the fourth quarter with six unanswered points for Alameda, opening up their biggest lead of the evening. Stowers continued to out-muscle the Yellowjacket big men, grabbing a season-high 20 rebounds.

In the final three minutes, Berkeley began to climb back. Najee scored and was fouled, followed by point guard Josh Amey driving baseline for an easy lay-up, making the score 46-43.

On Alameda's ensuing possession, Takahashi was trapped in the corner, but he found Stowers, who fell but alertly called time-out before the inevitably traveling violation was called.

With less than a minute to play, Stowers tipped in a Hornet outside shot, putting Alameda back up by five.

Berkeley's Matthew McGill knocked down a clutch three with 3.4 seconds left, but Alameda was able to inbound the ball and secure the upset victory.

The win keeps the Hornets' NCS playoff hopes alive and improves their record to 12-8. Berkeley falls to 12-9.

Alameda comes home to take on the De Anza Dons on Tuesday.

Eli Nemzer covers prep sports for the Alameda Sun. He is an Alameda High student.