LATE RUN SENDS PALO ALTO BOYS TO D-I FINAL
Leigh was in place for extra late-game magic within the semifinals of the Central Coast Part Division I playoffs on Thursday night time.
When Brody Le buried a 3-pointer whereas drawing a foul after which made the foul shot, the visiting Longhorns held a two-point lead over top-seeded Palo Alto halfway by the fourth quarter.
However not like Tuesday, when Cade Robertson hit a half-court shot on the buzzer in time beyond regulation to beat Mountain View, fifth-seeded Leigh’s part playoff run got here to an finish.
After the four-point play, Palo Alto scored the following eight factors and went on to a 40-35 victory to advance to the Division I remaining on Saturday night time in opposition to Carlmont at Mission Faculty.
Isaiah Phillips curled round a display and sank a 3-pointer from the highest of the arc to place Palo Alto in entrance 34-33.
Justin Fung adopted with a steal and a drive to the ring for a layup that made it 36-33. Phillips prolonged the margin to 37-33 when he made 1 of two free throws and Jorell Clark’s lay up gave the Vikings a 39-33 benefit.
Palo Alto (22-4) returns to a CCS remaining for the primary time because it captured back-to-back Division I crowns in 2019 and 2020.
The loss prevented Leigh (16-10) from reaching a second CCS remaining in program historical past. The Longhorns received the Division III title in 1991.
– Darren Sabedra
MILLS GETS REMATCH WITH NOTRE DAME-SJ
Mills’ bid for back-to-back CCS Division III championships was spoiled final season by Notre Dame-San Jose, which beat the Vikings in time beyond regulation 52-47 to have fun the title.
It was an emotional loss for Mills and its coach, Justin Matsu, because the staff devoted its season to Matsu’s father, Dave, who died of a stroke a couple of months earlier.
Dave was Mills’ longtime coach. He had shared the teaching duties with Justin when Mills beat Santa Cruz for the CCS Division III title in 2023.
As not too long ago as Tuesday, Justin visited his father’s gravesite earlier than the staff’s quarterfinal win to replicate on this system and his dad’s legacy.
Thursday, second-seeded Mills breezed previous Santa Cruz 60-30 to succeed in the Division III remaining for the fourth consecutive season. Sofia Kwan had 16 factors and Kalyssa Chu added 10 to cleared the path.
Saturday, the Vikings will get a rematch in opposition to Notre Dame-San Jose because the bracket’s top-seeded staff superior with a 63-28 win over Pioneer.
The ultimate will likely be held at Santa Clara Excessive at 1 p.m.
– Darren Sabedra
THE KING’S ACADEMY CRUISES INTO CCS D-IV FINAL
The staff some thought belonged within the CCS Open Division is stating its case within the part’s Division IV bracket.
The King’s Academy, the highest seed, had little hassle with No. 4 Sacred Coronary heart Prep on Thursday night time in Sunnyvale, incomes a cushty 64-50 win and advancing to the championship sport in opposition to No. 2 Carmel. A 17-5 run made the distinction because the Knights pulled away within the third quarter.
Alex Osterloh led all scorers with 18 factors for SHP (16-10), adopted by Alex Straser with 14.
Karan Kolappa paced TKA (22-4) with 15 factors, and Caedmon Dickson and Boss Mhoon every scored 14.
It was TKA’s third win over SHP this season. The Knights face Carmel at 3 p.m. Saturday at Santa Clara Excessive College.
– Christian Babcock
CHRISTOPHER BEATS WILLOW GLEN, SECURING REMATCH WITH WESTMONT
Not one, not two, not three…
Christopher has seen loads of Westmont this season, and after Thursday’s motion, the Cougars will see much more. The Gilroy faculty, the highest seed within the Division II event, defeated Willow Glen 60-52 at dwelling to safe its spot within the D-II remaining.
Ready for the Cougars as soon as once more will likely be Westmont, which Christopher (24-2) has already confronted thrice this season.
The Cougars have received the primary three matchups. Can they do it once more with a CCS title on the road?
We’ll discover out at 7 p.m. Saturday at Santa Clara Excessive.
Senior Davian Kennedy led Willow Glen (15-12) on Thursday with 27 factors.
– Christian Babcock
LOS GATOS GIRLS PUNCH TICKET TO D-I FINAL
As anticipated, Los Gatos could have an opportunity to win one other part title.
The Wildcats, a transparent favourite within the ladies Division I bracket as the highest seed, took care of enterprise within the semifinals with a 56-35 win over No. 4 Salinas.
Now the Cats (19-8) will meet No. 3 Menlo-Atherton within the D-I championship sport after the Bears upset No. 2 Evergreen Valley 56-37 in San Jose.
The 2 groups haven’t met this season. Los Gatos posted an ideal 12-0 document within the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division, whereas M-A (19-7) completed first within the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division, going 10-2 in league play.
The pair of Bay Space heavyweights will do battle at 3 p.m. Saturday on the Mission Faculty court docket.
– Christian Babcock
MENLO GIRLS ON CUSP OF FOUR IN A ROW
Apparently, there isn’t a stopping Menlo College within the CCS Division IV ladies bracket.
The highest-seeded Knights prolonged their playoff successful streak to 11 video games on Thursday night time with a 51-26 victory at dwelling over fourth-seeded Notre Dame-Belmont within the semifinals.
Saturday, they’ll goal for his or her fourth consecutive Division IV title once they play Harker, the opponent they defeated to seize the 2022 crown.
Within the semifinals, Ruiqi Liu led Menlo with 20 factors and 7 assists and Karen Xin added 17 factors because the Knights improved to 17-8.
Menlo had cut up two earlier conferences this season in opposition to Notre Dame-Belmont in West Bay Athletic League Foothill Division play, successful 45-33 on Jan. 31 and dropping 52-42 on Jan. 14.
The rubber match was no contest.
Menlo led 22-5 after the primary quarter, 34-11 at halftime and 46-15 after three quarters.
– Darren Sabedra
ON TAP FOR FRIDAY
The CCS’s heavyweights will likely be at Santa Clara College on Friday night time for the Open Division championship video games. Within the 6 p.m. ladies remaining, Archbishop Mitty will attempt to win its thirty third CCS championship when it performs longtime rival Pinewood. Within the 8 p.m. boys title sport, Archbishop Riordan will likely be aiming for back-to-back Open titles when it takes on St. Ignatius, which is showing in its first Open remaining, a division the CCS added in 2013. … All 4 finalists went 3-0 in pool play to succeed in the championship video games. On the boys’ facet, the one different staff with a successful pool-play document was Milpitas, the runner-up to SI. Milpitas beat Bellarmine and Serra to complete 2-1. … Riordan and Priory went 2-1 in ladies pool play. … Menlo-Atherton, routed by the Riordan boys on Monday, ended pool play with a pleasant bounce-back win over Mitty on Wednesday.
— Darren Sabedra
