But even first-round losses in the CCS Division III playoffs couldn't diminish the successful efforts put forth by both Saratoga teams this winter as the boys and girls clubs recorded outstanding records for the 2002­03 campaign.

The Saratoga boys fell 61-45 to Pioneer in the first round of the CCS playoffs. The loss ended the year for the Falcons, but what a year it was. Mike Davey's club posted a 17-9 record for the year.

The girls, meanwhile, lost 54-45 to Burlingame in the first round of the playoffs. The Falcons, under the guidance of veteran coach Bret Yeilding, notched a solid 20-7 record overall.

Guard Matt Ashburn and center Greg Van Hoesen each capped an outstanding senior season with an 11-point effort in the loss to the Mustangs. Ashburn had a three-point bucket among his three field goals, and he added four points at the free-throw line. Van Hoesen jammed five shots from the field and hit a free throw.

Sophomore Dan Wallace supported with six points for the Falcons, and senior Frank Wallace had five. Lawrence Hui and Aron Mitsunaga chipped in with four points apiece, and Irving Chien and Scott Russell added two points each.

Pioneer, behind the hot-shooting Junior Elgin-Taylor, opened up a 20-10 lead in the first period and stretched that to 15 points by intermission at 32-17. The Mustangs coasted from there to the win, with Elgin-Taylor pouring in 34 points, including a pair of threes.

Seniors playing their final game for the Falcons included Ashburn, Van Hoesen, Chris Barrett, Hui and F. Wallace. Juniors Chien, Sean Coleman, David Kau, Calvin Lin and Mitsunaga are all expected to return next season, along with sophomores D. Wallace, Chris Etterman and Nima Rad.


Girls lose to Burlingame

Sophomore forward Bryte Nielsen tossed in 12 points and junior guard Victoria Liu added 11, but the Saratoga girls lost by nine points to Burlingame.

Nielsen hit a couple of threes and a two-point bucket along with four free throws to lead all Saratoga scorers. Liu popped three threes among her four field goals.

Senior forward Sarah Yee buried three threes to finish with nine points. Junior forward Jordan Henry added six points, junior Tiffany Tan four and sophomore Julia Anderson three.

Much like the boys, the Falcon girls fell behind 15-10 in the first quarter and 32-18 by intermission. They cut the lead by eight in the third period but were too far behind to wage a comeback.

Yee and Katie Levinson were the only seniors on the Saratoga squad this winter. Henry, Tan and Liu head a cast of talented juniors that also includes Chrissie Chew, Hannah Gladwell and Amy Yee. Nielsen and Anderson are among the top sophomores, which also includes Irene Tan, Angela Wong and Jordana Dreyfus. Freshman Tiffany Poon will be another solid returner for the Falcons next season.