Usually schools honor just their own seniors--and sometimes the parents of the seniors. But the public address announcer surprised the crowd when he acknowledged Willow Glen senior co-captain Diana Schnabel, and a member of the Branham squad presented her with a floral gift and a hug.

Then Schnabel went out and played a superb all-around game, showing the Bruins she was worthy of the pre-game recognition and helping her Rams give the hosts all they could handle. She scored 13 points, including two three-point baskets, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, made two steals and blocked a shot. On top of that, Schnabel contributed a near-flawless floor game, passing off for two assists and committing just one turnover.

All that was missing for Schnabel and the Rams was a victory; Branham eked out a 51-49 win in overtime.

Following a 51-29 defeat at Gunderson earlier in the week, the overtime loss at Branham dropped the Rams' league record to 5-7 with just two games to play.

Willow Glen, with a 10-13 overall record, resumes Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division play with its final home game of the season Feb. 15 against Silver Creek. The Rams conclude the regular season on Feb. 17 when they travel to play first-place Santa Teresa.

Unlike its first meeting with Branham, a 13-point setback, Willow Glen kept last week's game close throughout. After falling behind 14-9 in the first quarter, the Rams recovered and trailed just 23-20 at intermission. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams were even at 33. Both teams scored nine in the fourth quarter, before Branham pulled ahead in the extra four-minute session on a baseline jump shot by freshman Bina Madzar and a few free throws by sophomore Sammy Snook.

Emily Roberts, one of five juniors on the team, led Willow Glen with 16 points and seven rebounds. Krista Pronge, who scored 10, also had seven rebounds.

In the Gunderson game, Roberts had another big game--a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds)--but no other Ram scored more than Schnabel's four. Edith Vazquez and Michelle Galvis each hit a three pointer, while Pronge and sophomore Stephanie Serna both had two points. Corina Lopez added one.

Serna and Lopez worked the backboards for six rebounds each, and Schnabel grabbed five. Lopez had three steals and two assists, while Galvis chipped in three steals and a blocked shot.