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The Menlo School boys' soccer team pulled into a temporary tie for first place in the West Bay Athletic League with a 2-1 victory over host Priory in Portola Valley on Monday.

The Knights opened a crucial week by improving to 8-1-2 in league (11-3-3 overall) and now share the top spot with Sacred Heart Prep, both with 26 points.

Menlo took the lead in the 14th minute after junior John Strong won the ball back on the left wing, beat his defender and fired a curling shot from outside the box over the keeper into the far top corner. The lead did not last long as Priory leveled just a few minutes later.

The Knights responded well and regained the lead just a few minutes later. After some fluid passing in midfield, sophomore Kyle Perez found senior Ryan Karle 25 yards out. Karle turned and rifled a shot that the Panthers' keeper was unable to keep out of the net. Menlo outshot Priory, 21-5.

In the second half, Menlo dominated play but was unable to find the back of the net. Strong, Karle and junior Matt Myers all had dangerous efforts on net that the Priory goalie did well to keep out.

The Knights have three matches this week, including a home match against Pinewood on Wednesday (2:45 p.m.)( and a home match against third-place Eastside Prep (6-4) on Friday. Sacred Heart Prep (8-0-2) hosts Eastside Prep on Wednesday and visits Harker on Friday.

Should both Menlo and SHP win out this week, they'll likely decide the regular-season title next Wednesday in a showdown at Sacred Heart Prep.

Boys' basketball
With Bobby Roth and Jack Heneghan combining for 35 points, Menlo School continued to control its destiny in the WBAL with a 52-45 victory over host Priory on Monday. The game was rescheduled from January 29.

Roth tallied 18 and Heneghan added 17 as the Knights remained atop the standings at 9-1 (13-7) with four games left in the regular season. Menlo pulled away from a 26-23 halftime lead with a solid third quarter to hold off the pesky Panthers (4-6, 7-10).

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Alto (9-0, 19-1) will visit Cupertino (0-8, 3-17) on Tuesday night with an opportunity to wrap up the outright league championship. The Vikings have a three-game lead on Saratoga and Mountain View with three to play.

Girls' basketball
Host Eastside Prep (7-1, 16-5) and Pinewood (7-1, 18-4) will meet in East Palo Alto to most likely decide the WBAL Foothill Division regular-season title on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

Pinewood still has to visit Menlo (5-3, 15-7) on Friday while Eastside Prep finishes up against winless Castilleja before the WBAL playoffs begin next week. Eastside Prep, Pinewood, Menlo and Sacred Heart Prep all have clinched first-round byes.

— Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo School Athletics

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