Saratoga News Photograph by Scott Lechner Kristy Ozawa, #30, attempts to pass the ball to a teammate and is covered by heavy defense. Prospect defeated Pioneer High School Wednesday night. Panthers hope to contend By Dick Sparrer An outstanding 1995 season meant two things for the Prospect boys basketball team--a West Valley Division championship, and a trip to the Blossom Valley Athletic League's more rugged Santa Teresa Division. Four years later, the Panthers remain in the Santa Teresa Division, but they haven't figured among the league's title contenders since joining the new division. That could all change this winter. "We hope to be competitive," said Prospect coach John Melvin as he looks ahead at the 1998-99 basketball season. "We should have more experience this year. Plus, we have a better attitude, and more competitive practices." Melvin's hoping that that will translate into a team that will contend with Santa Teresa, Del Mar and Mt. Pleasant in the race for the division championship. Comeback all-leaguers Barry Sharpe and Thomas Turner join with Gil Vasquez and Mike Senteio to give the Panthers a solid corps of returners this season. Sharpe, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, and Turner, a 6-foot-0 junior forward, were both picked for the all-league second team in the Santa Teresa Division last year. Vasquez, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, is a "team leader and a hard-working, solid player," said Melvin. Senteio, a 5-foot-8 guard, is a "quick, smart point guard," added the coach. The four are joined on the floor by center Slaven Moro, a 6-foot-5 junior transfer from Bosnia. "He could give us added rebounding," said Melvin. "We hope to improve grades and get more players eligible," said the coach, who has instituted a study hall program for his squad. "We're working toward total team commitment and finding good playing combinations. We look forward to a fun, competitive season." Panthers win Prospect found a pretty good playing combination last week. The Panthers opened the year with a 37-27 win over Lynbrook. Senteio pitched in 11 points to lead all Prospect scorers in the win. Turner supported with eight points, and Sharpe popped seven, including a three-pointer. Kelly Stephens (5-foot-8 junior) added four points, Jerome Ort (6-foot-2 senior) three, and Vasquez and Bryan Spratling (6-foot-0 senior) hit two apiece. Vik Rajagopal and Steve Fujihara tossed in eight points apiece for the Vikings in the loss. Prospect and Lynbrook will head in different directions this week. The Panthers will take part in the Westmont Tournament Dec. 1-4, and the Vikings will compete in the Cupertino Tournament Dec. 2-4. Westmont Tournament Westmont will host its annual pre-season basketball tournament beginning Tuesday night with the finals set for Friday in the Westmont gym. The Warriors opened the year last week by splitting two games. Westmont edged Monta Vista 50-49, but lost 54-34 to Cupertino. Rick Sherburne poured in 20 points and Kyle Collins added 11 to lead the Warriors to the tight one-point win over Monta Vista. Collins bombed three three-pointers in the win. Sherburne came back with 17 points, and Collins had eight, including a pair of threes, but the Warriors lost by 20 to Cupertino. Falcons win opener Geoff Lamotte buried six three-pointers on his way to a 20-point night to lead the Saratoga boys to a 71-60 win over Menlo in the season opener for each school. Micah Weger supported with 17 points, including a three, and Bill Wallace finished in double digits with 10 points. Michael Crosby and Spencer Jamison tossed in nine points apiece in the win. Daniel Goñi had four points for Saratoga, and Adam Weiskal hit two. The Falcons led 17-12 at the first buzzer, but took a slim one-point lead in at the half, 28-27. Saratoga turned it up a notch in the third quarter, though, to top Menlo 27-10, and the Falcons rolled from there to the victory. Girls Hoops In girls basketball action last week, Westmont dropped a 41-24 nod to Homestead and Prospect lost twice, falling 44-29 to Pioneer and 51-28 to Homestead. Sheryl Mahaffey tossed in seven points, including a three, and Alyssa Parsons added six points to lead all Westmont scorers in the loss to the Mustangs. Jenny Brown chipped in with three points, Jennifer Payne, Kim Castillo and Victoria Sifuentez hit two points each and Jennifer Casselberry added one. Cindy Sharpe pitched in eight points, including a three, but Prospect lost to Pioneer in the season opener for each squad. Kim Calderon added six points for the Panthers, and Jennifer Sitter and Cristin Schultz added four points apiece. Calderon, Erinn McGrady and Kimi Ozawa had six points each in Prospect's loss to Homestead. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 2, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.