Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Pioneer wins Shootout crown; Bruins get fifth

By Greg Lydon

A cold-blooded 3-pointer from the corner by senior guard Mike Beltramo swished home, as the red-hot backcourt of the Pioneer boys basketball team helped lead the Mustangs to a Los Gatos Lions Club Wildcat Shootout championship on Friday night at Los Gatos High School.

A 30-point game in an 85-58 win over Branham on Wednesday was a season high for Pioneer's Beltramo, but his 23 points against Los Gatos proved to be the most important, helping his team start the season strong by capturing a tourney title and a MVP trophy to put on his mantel.

Beltramo's dagger three-ball in the corner was right in front of the Los Gatos student section that had been giving him an earful all night long. Beltramo made the shot, then gave the crowd a wave goodnight, as Pioneer defeated Los Gatos 73-55.

Beltramo was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after leading the Mustangs to the tourney title. Pioneer's Nick Maggipinto joined him on the all-tourney team that included Greg Walters and Evan Vandenberg of Los Gatos, Gregg Hipwell of Leland, Steven Walker of Saratoga, Jimmy Renneke of Willow Glen and Gino Valetta of Branham.

Consolation game

After an 0-22 season last year, Branham boys basketball is back. Knocking off Leigh and Willow Glen for the first time since 2005 on back-to-back days got the Branham fans roaring Friday afternoon at Los Gatos High. A 51-40 win against Willow Glen in the consolation game was a sweet one for head coach Randy Bartholomew and his Bruins as they finished fifth in the tourney.

All-tournament performer Gino Valetta led the way with his smooth shooting, helping his team go 2-1 in the tournament, bouncing back from an opening day loss to eventual tournament champion Pioneer.

Willow Glen 6-foot-5 center Jimmy Renneke earned all-tournament honors for his excellent rebounding and scoring during the three-day tournament, but his 22 points weren't enough to hold off the superb guard play from the much improved Branham bunch.

Valetta and Brandon O'Campo shared game-high honors for the Bruins with 14 points apiece in the win. Nick Rossetta and Robby Anderson dropped seven each and Matt Weber had six.

Ricky Huynh tossed in seven points for the Rams to support Renneke's effort.

Semifinals

Pioneer cruised to a 71-49 win over Saratoga in the tournament semifinals to reach the title game, and Vandenberg poured in 15 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Los Gatos to its 70-53 win over Leland.

Branham played its way into the consolation finals with a 59-52 win over Leigh in the second round of the tournament.

Valetta had a big night for the Bruins with 20 points, including five buckets from three-point country. Robby Anderson tossed in 18 points in the win, and O'Campo and Ryan Anderson had seven apiece. Ryan Nunez added three points, and Rossetta and Weber had two each.

Leading Leigh were Alex Ellinwood, Tyler Ni and Matt Davies with 10 points each. Rob Pappas and Nick Taylor had eight apiece, Steven Sanders hit four and Vince Dipiero had two.

Willow Glen earned its Friday date with Branham by beating Live Oak 44-41 in overtime. Renneke led the Rams with 20 points and Huynh had 10.

First round

Los Gatos opener the tourney with a 75-46 win over Willow Glen. Renneke drained three threes on his way to a 17-point effort in the loss. Huynh had 10.

Saratoga survived overtime to edge Leigh 69-67 in the first round of the tourney. Leigh was led by Davies, who finished with 18 points. Ellinwood dropped 17, Taylor 11, Andre Dorsey eight, Pappas and Sanders four each, Tyler Campbell three and Ni two.

Pioneer topped Branham 85-58 despite a 22-point effort by sophomore forward Nick Rossetta. Robby Anderson supported with 11 points and O'Campo had nine. Valetta hit five, Weber four, Ryan Anderson three and Nunez and Matt Gorham two apiece.