The Mustangs' seven-game string to begin the 2004­05 season was cut by Santa Teresa on Dec. 14, but they started anew three nights later in their home opener.

After a sluggish first two quarters against Andrew Hill, the Mustangs went into the locker room at halftime trailing 27-26. But they came out kicking in the third quarter and ran away from the Falcons in the second half. Homestead scored nearly 50 points during the final two periods and won 72-47.

With an impressive 8-1 record to start the season, coach Marc Cadet's Mustangs need just one more win to equal last year's victory total of nine. They can pick that up in a non-league home game Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m., against Evergreen Valley, or in the Granite Hills Tournament Dec. 28­30 in El Cajon.

Seniors Alex Mrozack and Min Park sparked the win against Andrew Hill. Mrozack, a 6-foot-6 center, scored a game-high 19 points. Park, a 5-10 guard, tallied 14.

Homestead's three other starters scored in double figures. Junior guard David Ostrow had 12, while junior post player William Tsai and senior forward Mark McLaughlin netted 10 apiece.

The Mustangs had started slowly in the first half three nights earlier at Santa Teresa, but never completely recovered from a 10-point halftime deficit. Santa Teresa took a 51-39 lead into the fourth quarter and staved off the Mustangs down the stretch.

McLaughlin (15 points) and Mrozack (13) were Homestead's scoring leaders against the Saints. Tsai put in nine points, while Ostrow and Ryan Dedrick both tallied eight. Park added four and Cameron Ott had three.

Lynbrook girls 11-1

Off to a "fantastic" start, the Lynbrook girls team reached a tournament championship game for the third straight week. And, for the second time, the Vikings walked away with a crown.

Lynbrook improved its record to 11-1 with three wins in the Cupertino Holiday Tournament, including a 40-34 triumph over Lincoln in the title game Dec. 17. The Vikings' only loss was to an excellent Burlingame team, Dec. 11, in the finals of the Monta Vista Tournament.

After dispatching host Cupertino 52-27 and Willow Glen 53-37 in the earlier rounds, the Vikings were able to hold off the aggressive Lions in the finale.

"Eleven and one is a fantastic place to be!" exclaimed Lynbrook coach Darrin Garcia.

Junior Laura Crisler, who scored 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds during the three-day Cupertino event, was the tourney's Most Valuable Player. She had 12 points and seven rebounds against Lincoln.

Sophomore Emily Shen, like Crisler a 5-foot-9 inside player, tallied 10 points and eight rebounds against Lincoln, and posted 26 of each in the tourney.

Seniors Vickie Chien (25 points, 22 assists, nine steals during the tourney) and Tiffany Pan (25 points, 22 rebounds, seven steals) joined Crisler on the six-player all-tournament team.

At Monta Vista the previous week, Pan and Gloria Sue were all-tourney selections and point guard Chien earned the "Lady Hustle" award.

Although Lynbrook is off to an "unbelievable start," Garcia says his team "needs to keep improving and play better than we have."

That improvement may come with the return of senior co-captain Nikki Chang, who has been sidelined with an injury for the past nine games. The Vikings were hopeful Chang would be ready to go for a non-league date at Santa Teresa on Dec. 21.

"She is the best player I have ever coached," Garcia said of the 5-7 senior.

Lynbrook's final preparations for the rugged De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League will take place at the Del Mar Tournament Dec. 26­29.

Tough losses for Mats

It was a tough weekend for Monta Vista boys basketball team at Prospect' Panther Invitational. The Matadors lost two straight to face an early exit from the tournament, and both were heartbreakers.

The Matadors opened the tourney with a tight 52-50 loss to Harker School, then dropped a 49-48 decision to Willow Glen.

Sophomore Marcus Woo and senior Garrett Peters pitched in 13 points apiece, but the Mats lost their opener to Harker. Soph Phil Kou pitched in nine points and senior Jeff Clewett added eight. Both hit three-pointers. Senior Kevin Baugh rounded out the Monta Vista scoring attack with six points.

The heartbreaking defeat was followed by another heartbreaker, the 49-48 loss to Willow Glen.

Peters had the hot hand for the Matadors with 17 points, seven of them coming at the free-throw line. Kou had a three among his seven points, Woo added six points and Clewett, Jeff Mo and Baugh hit four each. Clewett popped a three.

Brett Colloton had three points, David Byun two and Jeff Peng one to round out the scoring.

Kevin Sparrer contributed to this story.