The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Homestead trying to climb on top

By Mike Barnhart

With Cupertino and Saratoga promoted to the De Anza Division this season, some of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League's El Camino coaches quickly installed newcomer Homestead as the favorite to supplant 'Tino as boys basketball champion.

"It's Homestead's title to lose," claimed Mountain View coach Bob Heckmann in mid-December, citing the presence of 6-foot-8 center Ryan Dedrick and 6-foot-5 forward Tim Vanderet in the Mustangs' lineup as the reason why the El Camino title chase would be "a battle for second and third place."

"Any time you have two big men who are agile and can run the floor, it's hard for teams to match up," noted Heckmann, whose Spartans, like Homestead, dropped down from the De Anza circuit this winter.

But that was prior to the Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Tournament, where the Mustangs followed up a two-point win over a good Pioneer team with three straight losses. And it was before another three setbacks at the St. Francis Holiday Classic. And before the Mustangs started the new year with tough division losses to Monta Vista (51-45) and Wilcox (52-48), stretching their losing skid to eight games.

But, under coach Shawn Hook, Homestead's third head coach in three seasons, the Mustangs chose to be determined, not defeated. They won five El Camino games in a row, including convincing decisions last week over Lynbrook and Wilcox.

"We are trying to catch Monta Vista--that's the team to beat now," Hook said after the Mustangs' 52-36 win over Lynbrook. "We believe that the league champion will have to go through Homestead."

Monta Vista, 6-1, avenged its only division loss by dumping Mountain View 60-38 on Jan. 26. Meanwhile, Homestead turned the tables on Wilcox, 48-33, remaining one game behind the Mats at 5-2, heading into a Jan. 30 tilt at third-place Los Altos (4-3). Wilcox and Mountain View entered the week at 3-4, followed by Lynbrook at 2-4 and Santa Clara at 1-6.

If Monta Vista and Homestead both can win their next four division games, their Feb. 13 division finale would, indeed, determine the El Camino champion.

For the Mustangs to keep their title hopes alive, according to Hook, they need continual outstanding play from Dedrick, a second team all-De Anza pick last year. Dedrick posted game-high efforts of 18 points and eight rebounds at Lynbrook and 16 points against visiting Wilcox.

Although feeding the ball inside to Dedrick is a "no-brainer," Hook said Homestead's success also depends on consistently good play from three other seniors, Vanderet and guards Mickey Lai and Shamir Ross, as well as limiting turnovers.

The trio delivered against Lynbrook, combining for 23 points and helping force 21 Lynbrook turnovers, 12 in the second half. And, after 10 first-half turnovers, the Mustangs took care of the ball the rest of the way.

"We had just two turnovers in the second half," Hook noted. "That's a confidence builder."

The Mustangs also were able to hold down high-scoring Lynbrook senior Kris Gingrich in the second half. Gingrich, a second team all-El Camino choice last season, erupted for 10 of his team's 12 points in the second quarter, but managed just five the rest of the way.

Vanderet finished with nine points for Homestead. Lai had eight, including four of the Mustangs' 10 fourth-quarter free throws. Ross had two three-pointers for six, Jeff Whitford scored four, Patrick Myers three and Eathan Radicky and Alex German two apiece.

Homestead will return home to oppose Santa Clara on Feb. 2, before visiting Fremont for a non-league rematch, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

Seniors pace Fremont

The Firebirds, who improved their non-league record to 11-3 by beating Homestead, 54-38, on Jan. 16, have struggled to a 2-5 record in De Anza play. They scored an exciting win at Los Gatos and a disappointing home loss to Saratoga last week.

Fremont trailed Los Gatos by 12 points in the first half, before rallying for a 60-57 triumph. Seniors Jeremy Allen, Leo Janisse and Sam Kesten keyed the turnaround, according to coach Miguel Castillo.

The Firebirds never led against Saratoga, as both teams suffered through sub-par shooting nights before the Falcons prevailed, 45-38.

Kesten (11 points) was the Firebirds' scoring leader. Allen added seven and junior Danny Moctezuma had six for the Firebirds, who connected on just 16 of 49 shots from the field (33 percent). Freshman Jordan Sever had a team high seven rebounds.

The game was Fremont's third slow start in a row. The Firebirds could not recover from a 25-12 halftime deficit to Cupertino on Jan. 19 and lost 50-42. Kesten paced Fremont with 17, including five three-pointers, and Allen scored 10.

Fremont girls fall short

After going winless during the first round of the De Anza Division schedule, Fremont's girls were not hanging their heads against division leader Wilcox on Jan. 26.

The Firebirds, who led 11-10 after one period, showed their spirit as they rallied from 12 down in the final minute of the game to pull within four. They ran out of time, though, and lost 57-52 to the first-place Chargers (6-1, 16-3 overall). Fremont dropped to 0-7 and 6-13 overall.

"There is no quitting or giving up by these girls," praised coach Fred Yepez. "Even though we have had a rough start, they are all positive with great attitudes. I've been proud of the effort of the team thus far. Now we need to get a win under our belt to get rolling."

Fremont senior Alison Bushnell scored 15 points, sharing game honors with Liz Foster of Wilcox. Chargers Deanna Weaver (14) and Brittney Thompson (12) and Firebirds Carol Hoang (11) and Kristal Sana (10) also scored in double figures.

Meanwhile, Homestead's six-game unbeaten streak to start the El Camino season ended with a 37-30 loss to Saratoga. Senior Kate Mower scored 17 for the Mustangs, who slipped into a first-place tie with the Falcons at 6-1.

Mower also paced Homestead (11-9 overall) earlier in the week at Lynbrook, pumping in 21 points to spark a 44-42 triumph. Only three other Mustangs scored, Emily Blazensky with 12, Desiree Prevo six and Elan Kim five.

Senior Emily Shen scored 16 for the Vikings, who dropped to 4-2 in the division and 16-5 overall.

Grabau lifts Mustangs

Homestead's girls soccer team tightened up the De Anza Division standings with a pair of wins sandwiched around a 0-0 tie with the unbeaten league leader Los Altos.

Senior Michelle Grabau's hat trick helped Homestead start the productive week with a 4-1 win at Mountain View. Grabau also assisted on Katie McCafferty's goal. Andrea Grabau, Kristine Roome and Melanie Jones also notched assists.

Led by Diana Charrier's two goals, the Mustangs improved to 4-2-3 in division play and 8-3-4 overall with a 5-1 win over Saratoga. Roome, M. Grabau and Katie Phan also scored goals.

In the El Camino Division, Fremont improved its division record to 3-3-2 with a 1-0 win over Wilcox (0-8-1). Senior Christina Jacobs scored a second-half goal off of an assist from sophomore Kerri Robinson.

The Firebirds were coming off a tough 3-1 loss to division leader Gunn (8-1). Sophomore Alexis Tershay scored the lone Fremont goal in that one, with an assist from senior Heather Veitch.