Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Leigh girls are unbeaten

By Dick Sparrer

John Henry Mackey is back in town.

Well, almost.

Mackey's not back at Los Gatos High, where he coached for almost two decades and led the girls' basketball team there to a pair of Northern California championships.

No, Mackey is returning to the coaching ranks at nearby Leigh High, and he heads up a staff that includes two other former Gatos coaches--Rich Prsha and Mike McQuade, who each worked in the girls' program at Los Gatos in recent years.

Mackey inherits a Leigh team that won a division title as recently as 1996, but the veteran coach heads into this season with cautious optimism.

"We lost most of the girls from last year, and the league is stronger overall," Mackey said. "Leigh could slip in the standings this year."

The Longhorns compete in the rugged Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League along with area powers Mitty, Presentation, Westmont and Leland.

But if early season results are any indication of things to come, Leigh may do well among the contenders in the tough division.

The Longhorns are off to a hot 9-0 start in the 1997-98 season, and that includes wins over Lynbrook, Independence, Fremont and three wins in the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Classic.

Leigh opened the year with a 41-31 win over Lynbrook. Senior Kathy Zehrbach, who won all-league second-team honors for Leigh a year ago, led the Longhorns with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Zehrbach came back with 20 points and seven boards in a tight 38-34 win over Los Altos a game later. Senior forward Melody Page, an all-league first-team pick last year, supported with six rebounds and five steals.

Leigh won three straight games to claim the team title in the Mt. Pleasant Holiday Classic.

Page had a big night with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals to lead the Longhorns to a 47-17 win over Mountain View in the tourney title game. Page was named the tournament's most valuable player, and Zehrbach was picked to the all-tourney team.

Zehrbach poured in 22 points and ripped down 13 rebounds and Page had 10 points, 13 boards and four steals in a 58-44 win over Santa Teresa in the opener. Senior Dana Nisich had five steals, and junior guard Lauren Griswold popped 11 points.

The 'Horns whipped Saratoga 55-42 in the second round of the tourney. Zehrbach put together 16 points with 11 caroms and five blocked shots, and Page had eight points and 10 rebounds. Griswold handed out five assists.

Leigh was to face Los Gatos on Monday, and will open league play on Jan. 7 against powerful Mitty. Mackey returns to the court after a three-year retirement.

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