But despite coming through with all-tournament team performances, the local basketball players couldn't lead their respective teams to championships in tourney play last week.

Wald and Kitasoe were each named to the all-tourney squad at the Dons' Club Tournament held last week at Del Mar, but the Mustangs lost a 26-24 heartbreaker to Pioneer in the finals.

And Enchill and Russ each won all-tourney honors at the Gunderson Invitational, but the Firebirds lost a tough 58-54 nod to Wilcox in the championship game.

Russ jammed 19 points and Enchill pumped in 14, but it wasn't enough for the Firebirds against the Chargers. Scott Bergeron finished in double digits with 14 points, and Josh Fernandez hit seven. The Firebirds trailed 15-9 after a period in the championship but cut the Wilcox lead to three points, 24-21, by the half. Fremont topped the Chargers 25-17 in the third quarter to take a 46-41 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Firebirds were outscored 17-8.

Fremont came back later in the week to drop Leigh 50-46 in the first round of the Leigh Tournament.

Bergeron led the Firebirds with 21 points, and Enchill chipped in with 16.

Over in the Dons' Club Tournament, Wald tossed in nine points and Kitasoe hit six in the low-scoring championship game against Pioneer. Elham Mirshafiei supported with four points, Elyse Maru and Melissa Manuel hit two apiece and Shelly Harris had one.

The Mustangs, now 8-5 for the year, were even with Pioneer after a period at 5-5 and led 14-10 at intermission. Homestead took a 20-15 lead into the final quarter but was outscored 11-4.

A game earlier, Kitasoe popped a pair of threes on her way to a 15-point night in a tight 34-33 win over Saratoga in the tournament semifinals. Wald, who also hit a three, added 13 points in the win.

Joanna Harris added four points and Manuel had two for the Mustangs, who held off a late run by the Falcons to clinch the win.

The Mustangs opened the tourney with a 59-42 win over Woodside. Kitasoe fired in 18 points to lead the Mustangs and Wald canned 13. Sophomore Shelly Baxter chipped in with 12.

Manuel added seven for the Mustangs in the win, Maru had four, Mirshafiei popped a three and Harris had two.

The Mustangs were coming off of a 1-3 finish in the Half Moon Bay Girls Basketball Tournament. Homestead opened with a 58-51 loss to Menlo-Atherton but came back with a 57-55 win over South San Francisco. The locals lost 55-43 to Mills and 52-51 to host Half Moon Bay in their final two games of the tourney.

Kitasoe bombed three three-pointers and finished with 23 points, but the Mustangs lost to Half Moon Bay in their final game. Wald buried 11 free throws on her way to 15 points. Manuel added eight points in the game, Maru and Harris had two apiece and Mirshafiei hit one.

Homestead had opened with a 58-51 loss to Menlo Atherton despite a 22-point night by Wald. She had two threes among her seven field goals and added six points at the free-throw line.

Kitasoe finished with 16 points in the game, Manuel had five and Mirshafiei and Harris hit four apiece.

Wald came back with a huge night to lead Homestead to a 57-55 win over South San Francisco. The hot-shooting junior dropped eight field goals and 13 free throws on her way to a 29-point effort.

Kitasoe finished in double digits with 16 points. Mirshafiei added four points and Maru, Harris, Baxter and Manuel hit two each.

But Homestead lost 55-43 to Mills a night later, despite getting 16 points from Wald and 11 from Kitasoe. Baxter had six points, Maru four, Mirshafiei three, Manuel two and Harris one.

The Mustangs will open league play this day in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. Homestead will visit Lynbrook on Jan. 8, 7 p.m., before hosting Wilcox on Jan. 10, 6 p.m.