Saratoga News

Sports

Photograh by Diana Diroy

Saratoga's Kourash Agahdel pushes the ball up the floor in a first-round win over Leland in the Los Gatos Lions Club Wildcat Shootout.

Falcons top Cats in battle for tourney third

By Brad Wall

Los Gatos trailed Saratoga by as many as 11 points in the second half before staging a furious fourth-quarter rally, capped by a game-tying three-pointer by junior guard Greg Walters.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, though, Walters' three-ball from the wing with 5:37 left in the game would be the last points they would score until a meaningless put back with 20 seconds left, as the Falcons closed the contest with a 13-2 run to pull out a 65-54 victory the third-place game of the Los Gatos Lions Club Wildcat Shootout last Friday night.

"Last night we lost to Pioneer," said Falcons head coach Mike Davey. "We just needed to get a good win against a good team. This is going to be good for us."

The victory netted the Falcons third place in the Shootout while the host Wildcats had to settle for fourth.

"We expected to win it, so we're not really happy about it," said Los Gatos head coach Sean Cummings. "We didn't play smart at times."

The Falcons were led by all-tournament team selection Bo Nielsen, who hit four three-pointers and went 8 for 11 from the free-throw line as he scored a game high 30 points. Walters grabbed all-tourney honors for the Wildcats as he paced them with 18 points, going 4 for 6 from the line and hitting four three-pointers.

However it wasn't the Falcons' offense, but rather their defense which won them the game.

After Walters' three-pointer, the Saratoga defense went to work.

Despite the Wildcats size and strength advantage in the paint, Saratoga senior forward Nick Valuri proved to be the difference maker in the key.

During the Falcons game-clinching 13-2 run, Valuri was a force on the offensive glass and had two huge blocks on back-to-back Wildcat possessions to slam the door shut.

"In the second half, we did a better job on the boards," said Davey. "They were bigger and stronger. If it turns into a football game we're in trouble, but at the same time our guys have to be tough."

For a while, it appeared as if the Falcons would let Nielsen's dominating performance and an early lead go to waste.

Behind the scoring prowess of Nielsen, the Falcons surged to a 22-15 first quarter lead, pushing it to 38-30 at the half.

However, after a bucket by Valuri gave the Falcons a 49-38 lead with 3:22 left in the third, the Wildcats started their second half surge.

Sparked by a three pointer by Walters and some scrappy play by fellow guard Bryan Johnson, the Cats closed the third with a 7-1 run, capped off by a steal and lay-up at the buzzer by Johnson.

Trailing 50-45 entering the fourth with their home crowd in a frenzy, the Wildcats continued their rally behind Walters and Johnson.

Johnson got another steal and breakaway to cut the lead to 50-47 and a minute later junior forward Karl Winkelman hit a turn-around jumper in the lane to draw the Wildcats closer at 50-49.

Falcons guard Keon Ghafouri scored to make it 52-49, setting up Walters' dramatic, yet futile, game tying three-pointer.

To go along with Nielsen's great game, Steven Walker added nine points and Valuri chipped in five. Kauros Agahdel scored seven points, Ghafouri scored six, Chris Chiou scored three and Ed Ye scored two.

In addition to Nielsen and Walters, the all-tournament team included Pioneer guard Gilbert Mendoza, Leland guard Drew Marino, Leigh forward Reece Behrens and Willow Glen teammates forward Kyle Schroeder and guard Steven Skavdahl. Skavdahl earned Most Valuable Player honors.

The tournament started out well for the Falcons.

The Falcons jumped all over the Leland Chargers, building a 42-15 halftime en route to a 59-43 victory. Nielsen led the way, hitting three three-pointers as he scored 21 points, Agahdal scored nine points, Sean Casserly eight, Ghafouri seven, Valuri five, Rezaii three and Walker, Robin Hsi and Chiou two each.

The Chargers were led by Marino's 22 points as he too hit three three-pointers.

Saratoga dropped a 63-61 overtime thriller to Pioneer in the semi's. The Falcons had outscored the Mustangs 20-16 in the fourth quarter to send the game into OT, but came up a bucket short of the victory and a place in the finals.

Nielsen led the Falcons with 18 points, including a three. Ghafouri added 14 points with a three among his three field goals and seven free throws. Valuri joined the two in double digits with 10 points, Walker had seven and Casserly hit six.

In the rest of the first round action, Willow Glen crushed Leigh 62-49 and Pioneer demolished Live Oak 62-36.

In the consolation bracket, Leland used a 12-3 third period to hold off Live Oak 45-40 and Leigh jumped out to a 28-point lead over Branham as they cruised to a 64-45 victory.