Cats upset Milpitas, lose one-point nod to Paly

By Dick Sparrer

Jim Marino was figuring to see two of the best teams in the Central Coast Section on the Los Gatos basketball floor last week. But maybe he saw three.

The Gatos boys basketball coach knew that the Wildcats would have their hands full against CCS powers Milpitas and Palo Alto. But the Cats stepped up to play each of the two clubs dead even, upsetting the Trojans 46-45 on Tuesday night before losing a 45-44 heartbreaker to the Vikings on Friday.

Marino considers Milpitas and Paly to rank among the best teams in CCS. And maybe his Cats rank there as well.

"This week we proved that we can play with anybody, now that we're getting back to being healthy," said Marino. "We're really playing better right now, and maybe that will help us down the stretch."

The split left the Wildcats 5-5 in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and 11-12 for the year with two games left in the regular season. The Cats will host Wilcox on Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., on senior night before heading to Fremont on Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

"Hopefully we can win the next two games, and that will give us a lift going into the playoffs," said the coach.

The Wildcats got a big last week with the return of Chris McMorrow to the Gatos floor. The 6-foot-5 senior forward, an all-leaguer last year, has missed most of the year with a knee injury. With his return, and the fact that Scott Holbert's injured ankle continues to improve, Marino is optimistic about his club's prospects in the postseason.

The upset win over the Trojans last Tuesday gives Marino reason for optimism. Milpitas came into Gatos unbeaten in De Anza Division play, but the Cats tagged the Trojans with their first league loss.

"It was a great win for us," said Marino. And it was 6-foot-4 senior guard Trent Edwards leading the Wildcats to victory.

"He was just phenomenal," said Marino of Edwards. "He just controlled the game."

Edwards led the Cats with 24 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 effort from three-point range. He added seven rebounds and handed out four assists.

"He had a great night," added the coach. "It was an unbelievable effort for him."

Not only did Edwards star on the offensive end of the floor, he was also a defensive standout for the Cats.

"He drew the toughest defensive assignment," said Marino, "and he really played well on defense."

Ben Sandigo supported with 11 points and six rebounds, and Holbert tossed in eight points and pulled five boards. Chris Clock hit a three-pointer and Jayson Furia had four assists.

The Cats led by three to five points most of the night, but Milpitas took the lead in the final moments. Holbert hit a 5-footer with 12 seconds to play to put Gatos up 46-45, and the Trojans' last-second shot rolled off the rim.

"They were pretty excited after the game," said Marino of his players.

Los Gatos had another great shot at a win later in the week, but lost 45-44 to Palo Alto.

"We had a legitimate shot to win that game," said the coach, but the Cats missed a couple of lay-ups and a few free throws down the stretch.

Paly scored on a tough 12-footer to take the lead with seven seconds left to play, and Edwards' three-point try at the buzzer missed its mark.

"We played a good team and played tough," said Marino. "We put ourselves in a position to win it, but we just came up short."

Sandigo had 10 points and four rebounds for the Cats, and Clock had a three among his nine points.

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