The Knights figured to have their hands full against Eastside College Prep, a quick, defensive-minded squad looking for its third straight Division V championship and sixth title in seven seasons.

And they did. Eastside outscored the Knights in every quarter en route to a 56-41 victory at Burlingame High School.

The East Palo Alto team built a 15-9 lead in the first quarter and extended the margin to 28-20 by halftime. The Knights' defense tightened after the intermission, allowing the Panthers only eight points in the third quarter. However, the Knights scored just seven in the period and trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter. Eastside put the game out of reach with 20 points in the final eight minutes.

Senior Paul Marcoux was the only Knight to score in double figures against Eastside. The 6-foot-1 guard popped a game-high 19 points, including three three-pointers. He finished the season as the team leader in scoring (12.3 points per game), three-point goals (63) and steals (69).

King's four other starters were limited to a combined 19 points. Six-foot-one junior Tim Biederman managed just six points, half of his average. Jason Linn, a 6-foot-2 senior, scored nine, and 6-foot-5 senior center Jacob Monroe added four. Guard J.T. Martin, who entered the game with a 9.1 scoring average, did not score.

The Knights' only bench points came on a three-pointer by 5-foot-6 sophomore Corbett Clarke. Colin Foshay, Steven Lim, Jordan McDonald and Jon McBirney all played, but did not score.

Seniors closing out their high school career were Marcoux, Linn, Monroe, Martin, McDonald and Derek Hum.

While King's converted only three of 10 free throws, Eastside made 12 of 14. The Panthers also were sharp from three-point range, nailing 6 of 8 attempts.

While Eastside moved on to the CIF Northern California tournament, King's had to settle for the satisfaction of putting together the finest season in school history.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Marc Taylor, the Knights posted a 22-8 record, including a 12-4 mark while marching to second-place finish in the Private Schools Athletic League. Taylor's squad was the fourth Knights team to reach the CCS semi-finals and the first since 1999.

Linn, who led the Knights in assists and rebounds this season, recently was picked to the all-PSAL first team. Biederman was a second team choice, while Marcoux was honorable mention.

Girls basketball

Playing in different divisions, Fremont, Homestead and The King's Academy all were eliminated from the CCS playoffs.

Sophomore guard Carol Hoang poured in 24 points, including five three-pointers, but Fremont lost 52-41 in a Division I first-round game at San Benito. Senior Kelly Bushnell added 11 points for the Firebirds, who could not recover from an 18-9 first-quarter deficit. Fremont ended the season with an overall record of 13-14.

Bushnell, Page Robinson, Amy Wanninger, Victoria Cunha, Jessica Svoboda and Ally Lang all played their final high school game for Fremont.

Homestead edged Lincoln of San Jose, 42-41, in the first round, but proved no match against top seed Archbishop Mitty, a team that went on to claim its 18th championship in 21 years. Homestead, overwhelmed by the Monarchs' full-court pressure defense, fell 88-17 and finished the season with a 9-16 record.

Sophomores Kate Mower and Cheryl Ichikawa were the top scorers against Mitty. Seniors playing their last game for the Mustangs were Shelly Baxter, Melissa Manuel and Ryan Gallagher.

In a Division V quarterfinal, The King's Academy fought back from an early 12-point deficit to tie Castilleja at halftime, but lost 61-49. The Knights' only senior, 6-foot-2 center Melissa Junge, paced the team with 18 points.

Three Knights--junior Lisa Walker (first team), Junge (second team) and junior Taylor Scott (honorable mention)--earned all-PSAL honors this season.

All-De Anza boys

Seniors Dan Bergeron of Fremont and Mark McLaughlin of Homestead recently were honored as part of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's all-De Anza Division first team.

Bergeron, a 6-foot-6 forward who led the high-flying Firebirds to a 25-4 record this season, was named Senior of the Year. McLaughlin scored 424 points (16.4 per game) during the Mustangs' 16-11 season.

Fremont seniors Chris Gokey and Giovanni Conner were among eight players picked to the second team.

Homestead guard David Ostrow was a second team pick.