Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Saratoga's Mike Black poured in 22 points, but the Falcons dropped a tough 81-71 decision to Fremont last week.

Saratoga girls win crown

Local teams advance to CCS playoffs

By Dick Sparrer

It wasn't the final game of the season in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

But there was none more important.

The Fremont and Saratoga girls' basketball teams were going head-to-head in the final week of the league season. Each team would still have a game to play, but this one was for the league championship.

And it was Saratoga coming out on top 64-43 in the battle for the division crown. The Falcons beat the Firebirds, then came back to take Wilcox 55-34 to complete a 12-2 season in El Camino Division play.

Fremont battled back from the loss to Saratoga to beat Milpitas 52-40 to clinch second in the division at 10-4. And now both teams advance to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

The division-champion Falcons take their 18-5 season mark on the road to visit Sacred Heart Cathedral (15-9) on Feb. 26, 7 p.m., in a CCS Division III game.

Allison Zisko buried 21 points, and Clancy Roberts dropped three three-pointers on her way to 15 points in Saratoga's title-clinching win over Fremont. Karin Bencala joined the two in double digits with 12 points.

Jenn Chan supported with eight points, Robyn Katzman hit six and Katie Wokas and Nicole LaMore had one each.

The Falcons outscored the Firebirds in every period but the fourth on the road to the victory and held a commanding 33-13 lead by the half.

Zisko came back with 20 points, and LaMore popped 10 in the win over Wilcox to close out the league season. Lynn Chouw hit eight points, Bencala six, Katzman four, Roberts three, Chan two and Wokas and Liana Huie one each.

Falcons host Cats

The Fremont and Saratoga boys also met in a key game in the El Camino Division last week, but it was Fremont pulling out a key win in this one to force a tie for second in the division.

The Firebirds turned back Saratoga 81-71 to move ahead of the Falcons in the division standings. But Fremont lost 49-37 to league champ Mountain View on Friday night while the Falcons were knocking off Monta Vista.

The split for each club actually created a three-way tie for second in the division. Fremont and Saratoga ended up tied with Cupertino for second place, all three clubs at 7-5.

Saratoga is home for the first round of the CCS Division III playoffs. The Falcons take their 15-10 season record up against Los Gatos (13-14) on Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

Mike Black bombed 22 points, but it wasn't enough for the Falcons against Fremont. Black had three threes among his six field goals and added seven points at the free-throw line.

Luke Weger hit a pair of threes on his way to 14 points, and Micah Weger tossed in 13 points. Ryan Anderson hit eight points, Geoff Lamotte seven, Jason Ng and Oliver L'Abbe three each and Cory Schwaderer one.

The Falcons came back with a clutch win over Monta Vista, though. Black and L. Weger dropped 14 points apiece to lead the Falcons to the 69-51 victory.

Ng and M. Weger joined the others in twin figures with 10 points apiece. Schwaderer chipped in with seven, Anderson six and L'Abbe three.

Panthers in CCS

The Prospect boys will be on the road to open the CCS Division II playoffs. The Panthers, 12-13, will visit South San Francisco, 24-4, on Feb. 25, 7 p.m.

Prospect wrapped up the regular season with a 55-52 win over Yerba Buena last week. Barry Sharpe led the Panthers with 14 points, and Lee Robinson joined him in double digits with 12. Eric Ostgarden added nine points, Thomas Turner eight, Jerome Ort four, Mike Suarez and Gil Vasquez three apiece and Justin Karren two.

Warriors open at home

Melissa Newberg buried 13 points, and Sheryl Mahaffey added 12 to help the Westmont girls even their record at 6-6 in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL with a 43-30 win over Prospect.

The Warriors, 17-9 for the year, will host the winner of the Lincoln (11-13)-King City (15-9) first-round game on Feb. 26, 7 p.m.

Elizabeth Harkins tossed in 16 points to lead all Prospect scorers in the game. Melissa Taylor chipped in with six points, and Sabine Bosklopper and Lauren Costanza added five apiece. Emillia Ortiz added a bucket in the win.

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