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Saratoga's Justin Zebb drives to the hoop in last week's loss to Homestead. The Falcons lost to the Mustangs, despite a 15-point performance by Zebb.
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Tough week for Saratoga basketball
Falcon girls lose inbattle of unbeatens
By Dick Sparrer
The Saratoga basketball teams were in great shape entering play last week in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
By the end of the week, though, it was a different story.
The Saratoga boys and girls teams each lost twice in league play last week to drop them back into the division standings.
The Saratoga girls took a 4-0 league record into the week. But the Falcons lost 57-45 to unbeaten Milpitas, then dropped a 48-43 nod to Mountain View.
The boys, meanwhile, were 2-1 in the division heading into the league. But the Falcons lost a 47-45 heartbreaker to Mountain View and a 56-45 decision to unbeaten Homestead.
Girls lose two
It was a battle of the El Camino Division's two undefeated teams when Milpitas and Saratoga collided to open the week. But the Trojans opened up an 11-point lead by intermission and went on to claim the 12-point win.
Freshman Bryte Nielsen pitched in 13 points, including a three-pointer, but it wasn't enough for the Falcons. Victoria Liu and freshman Julia Anderson joined her in double digits with 10 points apiece.
Tiffany Tan supported with five points, Karen Woo and Judy Wang hit three apiece and Selen Erdal had one. Tan, Woo and Wang each hit three-pointers.
The Falcons led by nine at the half against Mountain View, but ended up losing a disappointing five-point decision to the Spartans.
Liu jammed 13 points to lead all Falcons in the scoring department and Tan chipped in with 11 points. Each one popped a three.
Anderson added seven points to the cause, Nielsen had five, Woo three and Katie Levinson and Jordan Henry two apiece. Woo and Nielsen each hit threes.
The Falcons, now 4-2 in the division, will try to get back to their winning ways this week when they visit Wilcox on Jan. 23, 7 p.m., and host Lynbrook on Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Boys drop a pair
The Saratoga boys also lost twice last week to slip to 2-3 in the El Camino Division. The Falcons, 9-11 for the year, will be back in action this week when they visit Los Altos on Jan. 22 and host Monta Vista on Jan. 24 in a pair of 7 p.m. games.
The Falcons opened play week with a 56-45 loss to unbeaten Homestead.
Senior guard Justin Zebb led the Falcons with 15 points. The sharp-shooter had a three among his four field goals and he added five points at the free-throw line.
Junior guard Matt Ashburn supported with nine points, coming on a three-pointer and six free throws. Eric Lee had eight points, Lawrence Hui four, Chris Barrett three and Mark Elfving, C.K. Kaplan and Frank Wallace two each.
Saratoga battled from behind after trailing Mountain View 13-2 after a quarter, but the Falcons ended up losing by a bucket to the Spartans.
Lee was the scoring leader for Saratoga with 15 points. Zebb tossed in nine for the Falcons and Ashburn had a pair of threes among his eight points.
Warriors split
In other local action, the Westmont girls split a pair of decisions in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, losing a 67-62 heartbreaker to Oak Grove after beating Leland 48-41.
Senior guard Jennifer Brown tossed in 17 points to lead the Warriors past the Chargers. Brown had a three among her four field goals, and she added eight points at the charity line.
Freshman Rachel Gelman joined Brown in double digits with 12 points and frosh Allyson Carrothers supported with eight points. Shannon Stenzel and Karly Brownridge had four points each.
Brown came back with 23 points, but it wasn't enough for the Warriors against Oak Grove. Stenzel chipped in with 10 points, Gellman had nine and Brownridge added five. Brown and Brownridge each popped threes.
The Warriors, now 10-7 for the year and 2-3 in the division, were to visit Leigh on Monday and will host Presentation on Jan. 23, 7 p.m., and Leigh on Jan. 25, 4:30 p.m.
In boys basketball, Westmont cruised to a 62-35 win over Del Mar, but the Dons lost 52-33 to Overfelt in Santa Teresa Division play.
Brandon Sligh had a three among his 10 field goals to finish with 21 points in Westmont's lopsided win over Del Mar. Clay Tolbert supported with 17 points, including a pair of threes.
The Warriors outscored the Dons in each of the four periods on the road to the victory.
But things didn't go as well for the Warriors two days later against the Royals. Sligh finished with 16 points, including a couple of threes, but it wasn't enough for Westmont. Tolbert added six points, including a three.
The Warriors are now 3-2 in the Santa Teresa Division and 12-7 for the year.
Meanwhile, Prospect claimed its first league win with a 41-38 victory over Yerba Buena in Santa Teresa play last week. The Panthers are now 1-4 in the division and 12-8 for the year.
Ryan Najima and Brad Bonvecchio tossed in 11 points apiece to lead the Panthers to the win over the Warriors. Najima drilled three three-pointers in the game and Bonvecchio hit one.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
