This season, though, as the cream of the division, the two teams have battled for the division championship. A grand finale was set for Cupertino's gym on Feb. 15. The second-place Pioneers (9-2 in league, 19-7 overall) needed a win over the visiting Falcons (10-1, 22-4) to secure a co-championship.

Regardless of the outcome, both teams will advance to the Central Coast Section playoffs, which begin Feb. 22. Cupertino will compete in Division II and Saratoga in Division III.

The stage for the final league drama was set last week when Saratoga suffered its only league defeat and Cupertino claimed its fourth and fifth consecutive victories since losing in double overtime at Saratoga on Jan. 26. While the Falcons were falling 64-59 at Los Altos on Feb. 9, the Pioneers were ungracious hosts to Wilcox, 64-25.

Ehson Mortezaie (14 points), John Hiley (12) and Ryan Matsuoka (10) paced the offense against Wilcox. Greg Thacker and David Warren both scored eight points. Alonzo Fitz (10 rebounds) and Matt McCormick (nine) controlled the backboards for the Pioneers, and Dane Sakino triggered the offense with four assists.

Two nights later Saratoga returned home and lashed Lynbrook 67-32. Meanwhile, Cupertino used a huge third quarter to survive a tough night at the foul line and whip Monta Vista 68-50.

The Pioneers earned 31 free throws against the Matadors, but made only 15 of them. However, their 25-6 explosion in the third period erased Monta Vista's 33-30 halftime lead and propelled them into the Saratoga rematch.

Hiley (16 points, seven rebounds) and Thacker (10 and six) were big inside for the Pioneers, while Sakino and Mortezaie tallied 11 points each from their guard positions. Marcus Woo's 14 points and Garrett Peters' 11 paced Monta Vista.

The Matadors were coming off a 53-42 triumph over Lynbrook. Woo's 13 points led the winners, but Lynbrook's Jethen Pandian topped all scorers with 14. Mats Kevin Baugh and Jeff Clewett both scored 11.

With one El Camino game left to play, Monta Vista was shooting to even its 5-6 record against Santa Clara and Lynbrook looked to raise its 2-9 mark against Los Altos.

Homestead closed out its De Anza Division schedule with a 50-45 triumph over Gunn. Mark McLaughlin pumped in 16 points and William Tsai added 10 for the Mustangs (5-7 in league play), whose overall record of 16-10 will get them a berth in the CCS Division II tourney.

The win secured fourth place in the rugged league for Homestead. Palo Alto, 10-0 and 23-1 overall heading into the final week of the regular season, likely will win the division crown outright. Two wins last week clinched second place for Fremont (9-2, 23-3), with just a Feb.15 home game against Los Gatos left.

Girls basketball

Four straight wins, including successive 35-30 decisions last week over Milpitas and Saratoga, have guaranteed Lynbrook at least a .500 season in De Anza play and some added confidence prior to the rugged CCS Division II tournament.

Balanced scoring and excellent team defense are the main reasons the Vikings entered its final regular season game--Feb. 15 against unbeaten Los Gatos--sporting an overall record of 19-8 and a 6-5 division mark. The efforts of starters Vickie Chien, Tiffany Pan, Laura Crisler, Gloria Sue and Emily Shen have been crucial for the Vikings, who have had to play without injured senior guard Nikki Chang for most of the season.

CCS soccer pairings

El Camino champion Monta Vista (15-2-3 overall), the fifth seed, and sixth seed Homestead (7-7-4) are in opposite brackets of the Division I girls tournament, which begins Feb. 16.

The Matadors will host Andrew Hill of San Jose at either Monta Vista or De Anza College. Game time is 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Homestead--one of four De Anza division teams in the CCS playoffs--will travel to Alisal in Salinas. If either team wins on Wednesday, it will advance to a quarterfinal match on Feb. 19. Monta Vista would meet No. 4 seed Aptos (12-2-4), while Homestead would tangle with No. 3 St. Francis (15-2-6).

In Division II boys action, El Camino champ Cupertino (11-6-3) will host Archbishop Mitty (12-5-8) at 6 p.m. on Feb. 16.