Saratoga News

Warriors top Falcons in tourney finals

Girls' basketball teams travel across the county to play in Christmas Classic

By Dick Sparrer

Only a few miles separate their campuses.

Still, the girls' basketball teams from Saratoga and Westmont traveled across the county to play a game last week. But it was certainly worth the trip for the two local schools.

The Falcons and Warriors journeyed to Yerba Buena High School on Friday night to play in the championship game of the Shirakawa Christmas Classic, a game that Westmont won 53-45.

Melissa Newberg poured in 26 points to lead the Warriors to the win and the tourney title. Her performance offset a 17-point showing by Saratoga's Clancy Roberts.

The Warriors had earned a place in the championship game with a couple of rousing wins in the early rounds. Westmont opened up with a 68-13 win over tourney host Yerba Buena, then crushed Andrew Hill 59-39.

Saratoga also cruised into the finals with a couple of impressive wins, beating Hollister 50-44 and James Lick 48-29.

It was a solid second-quarter showing by the Warriors that proved the difference in the title decider. The Falcons led 13-11 at the first buzzer, but Westmont outscored Saratoga 18-8 in the second period to lead by eight at the half, 29-21.

The Warriors held that cushion the rest of the way on the road to the nine-point victory.

Newberg led all scorers in the finals with her 26 points. Sheryl Mahaffey joined Newberg in double figures with 12 points, including a couple of three-point buckets.

Sabine Bosklopper added six points for the Warriors; Emillia Ortiz, Melissa Taylor, Linda Matar and Alyssa Parsons hit two points each ; and Zuleeka Mohamed added one.

Newberg and Taylor were each named to the all-tournament team.

Roberts had the hot hand for the Falcons in the game, pumping in 17 points in the loss. Allison Zisko supported with 11 points; Karin Bencala added seven; Jenn Chan, six; and Nicole LaMore and Joanne Haggerty, two apiece.

Roberts and Zisko joined Newberg and Taylor on the all-tourney list.

The Warriors, 7-2 for the year, crushed Yerba Buena in the first round. Bosklopper popped 12 points to lead Westmont to the 68-13 win. Newberg and Mohamed pitched in 11 points apiece.

Taylor tossed in eight points, Mahaffey and Matar canned six points apiece, Parsons and Lindsay Hahn had five each and Lauren Costanzo hit four.

Mahaffey came back with 15 points, including a pair of threes, to lead the Warriors to the 59-39 win over Hill. Newberg buried 12 points, including a three, and Taylor finished with nine points.

Rounding out the list of Westmont scorers were Hahn with six, Bosklopper and Mohamed with four apiece, Matar and Ortiz with three each, Costanzo with two and Jennifer Casselberry with one.

The Falcons, now 6-2 for the year, opened tourney play with a solid showing in a 50-44 win over Hollister. It was Hollister's first loss of the young season.

Zisko had a big day for Saratoga with 20 points. Roberts jammed 12 points, and Chan added 11. Bencala hit five points and LaMore two to round out the Saratoga scoring.

Zisko came back with 16 points a game later to lead the Falcons to the win over James Lick. Roberts joined her in double digits with 12 points, including a three-pointer.

LaMore and Bencala pitched in six points apiece, Chan and Robyn Katzman had three points each and Mathilde Pelaprat hit two points.

Lynbrook also competed in the tourney but lost a 32-31 heartbreaker to Lick in the first round, then fell 61-40 to Hollister.

Sarah Cole, who poured in 12 points in the tough loss to the Comets, was selected to the all-tourney list for the Vikings.

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