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In what is sure to become a regular event this season, the Berkeley girls’ basketball team dominated their first ACCAL opponent, using all 13 players and resting their starters after the first quarter. 

The victim on this occasion was De Anza, but it doesn’t look like any team in the ACCAL will be much of a challenge to the Yellowjackets’ supremacy after their 70-32 dismantling of the Dons. 

“We know we’re going to be facing teams that aren’t as good as us,” said Berkeley forward Robin Roberson. “We just have to concentrate on doing the little things right, and not lose a game in the league.” 

Roberson helped make sure there was no danger of defeat in the first quarter, as she poured in 11 points and the ’Jackets jumped out to a 24-4 lead at the break with a runs of 14 and eight points. Roberson and center Sabrina Keys combined for eight steals in the first quarter, taking advantage of wild passes from the De Anza guards, who were under the pressure of the Berkeley full-court press. 

With victory assured, Berkeley head coach Gene Nakamura sat his starters for most of the second period and dropping his team back into a half-court trap defense. The offense stagnated, scoring just four points in the first five minutes of the quarter. But in came Roberson to score six quick points on her way to 21 for the game, and the Dons’ fate was sealed. 

The only concern for Yellowjackets was the the play of Keys. She made just 4-of-14 from the floor, and seemed nervous when she got the ball inside. 

“Sabrina’s holding the ball too much right now,” Nakamura said. “She needs to just catch and shoot.” 

That’s a pretty good description of what Nakamura’s entire team needs to do to go undefeated in the ACCAL: catch and shoot. Everything else is just gravy.