The Panthers played their way into the finals of the Archbishop Mitty New Year's Classic Tournament, but they lost to the host Monarchs in the championship game to wind up in second place.

Despite the loss, the Presentation girls had reason to celebration. They finished the "old year" with a 7-4 record and a second-place finish in the rugged tourney, and they start the "new year" this week with sights set on a solid finish in the tough West Catholic Athletic League.

The Panthers start the league season at home on Jan. 5, 7:30 p.m., when they host Valley Christian. Presentation will visit St. Ignatius on Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.

The Panthers are coming off of a solid showing in the Mitty New Year's Classic. Presentation opened the tourney with a 59-33 win over Sequoia and beat Soquel 62-51 in the semifinals before losing 58-30 to host Mitty in the championship game.

Cassie French and Kirian Ishizaki starred for the Panthers in the three-day event and wound up with spots on the all-tournament team for their efforts.

Lauren Passafuime of Soquel, Daniela Roark of Pinewood, Laura McLellan of Leigh, and Ashley Guerra and Danielle Robinson of Mitty were other members of the all-tourney team.

Ishizaki drilled 10 points and French hit a pair of three-pointers to finish with six, but the Panthers lost by 28 to the Monarchs.

Presentation was up 14-12 after a period and 26-23 at the half, but Mitty dominated the third quarter 23-2 and the fought 12-2 to cruise to the win and the tourney title.

French bombed 17 points and Ishizaki hit 12 to lead the Panthers to the win over Soquel in the semifinals. French had 20 in Presentation's tourney-opening win over Sequoia.

Willow Glen wins

Senior guard Diana Schnabel pumped in 14 points to lead the Willow Glen girls basketball team to a rousing 42-21 non-league win over James Lick last week. The Rams outscored the Comets in every period on the road to the victory.

Schnabel had a three-pointer among her five field goals and she added three points at the charity stripe.

Junior guard Corina Lopez hit a pair of threes on her way to eight points and junior post player Emily Roberts also had eight. Krista Pronge, Edith Vazquez and Jacky Pavan chipped in with four points each.

The Rams, 5-6 in the non-league season, have a bye on the first night of the season in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League before playing back-to-back home games--Jan. 6 against Mt. Pleasant and Jan. 7 against Independence. Tip-off is 7 p.m. each night.

Willow Glen boys lose

Senior Will Robinson poured in 17 points, but the Willow Glen boys basketball team dropped a tough 49-40 non-league decision to Cupertino last week.

Robinson tossed in five buckets from the field and added seven points at the free-throw line, but he was the only Ram to score in double digits in the game.

Junior Hienock Habte supported with seven points and sophomore Kyle Schroeder added six, and both hit three-pointers for the Rams.

The Rams will open play in the BVAL's Santa Teresa Division this week, hosting Independence on Jan. 4, 7 p.m., and visiting Leland on Jan. 7, 7 p.m.