Special to the Town Crier
Prep Boys Hoop Scoop
The reason there never seems to be a consensus favorite to win the SCVAL El Camino Division boys basketball race is because of the league's unpredictability.
The wide-open El Camino took another wild turn Feb. 10 when struggling Homestead traveled to first-place Gunn and upset the Titans 60-57. The loss reduced Gunn's division lead to a half-game over Mountain View, which beat Fremont 45-39 Feb. 10. Fremont fell a game back in the title race.
The race is nearing the finishing line, though, as league play concludes this week.
Gunn (8-2 division, 16-5 overall) played at Fremont (7-3, 12-11) yesterday and finishes the regular season by hosting Cupertino at 7 p.m., tomorrow.
Mountain View (7-2, 16-7) hosted Cupertino last Friday, a game played after the Town Crier went to press, and traveled to Saratoga yesterday. The Spartans wrap things up tomorrow at 7 p.m. against visiting Monta Vista.
If Mountain View and Gunn don't lose another game the rest of the way, these teams will share the division title because they split their two meetings this season.
Homestead has been out of the title chase for weeks, but that didn't stop the Mustangs from beating Gunn last week.
Homestead (4-6, 6-15) prevailed with a strong inside game, led by sophomore Matt Root, junior A. J. Peper and senior Steve Lambert.
The Mustangs were also able to break Gunn's press and hold the Titans' top three scorers - Tom Sikic, Steve Baker and Jamar Barnett - to just five points in the second half.
Homestead senior Matt Hoffman, who led all scorers with 18 points, nailed four clutch free throws down the stretch to ice the upset.
Mountain View trailed host Fremont 30-25 at intermission, then put the clamps on the Firebirds in the second half by allowing them just 11 points.
Seth Greenstein and Shasha Miri led the Spartans with 19 and 13 points, respectively.
St. Francis remained in second place in the West Catholic Athletic League with a critical 63-54 overtime win at Mitty Feb. 10.
The Lancers outscored the Monarchs 11-2 in the extra quarter. St. Francis was paced by junior Chase Lyman and sophomore Troy Bienemann, who tossed in 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Los Altos (1-8, 7-15) lost to visiting Los Gatos 64-51 in an SCVAL De Anza Division match-up. Senior forward Fritz Lanman led the Eagles with 18 points.