Basketball: Woodside boys, M-A girls pull out big wins Basketball: Woodside boys, M-A girls pull out big wins (February 01, 2006)

By Max Schneider

Special to the Almanac

Woodside boys' and M-A girls' teams landed huge wins over league rivals in high school basketball action last week.

Woodside rebounded strongly from a loss to league rival Menlo with a thrilling overtime victory over undefeated Sequoia on January 27, while M-A netted two impressive wins over equally tough competition.
Woodside boys

Down by four with 25 seconds remaining, Woodside needed some clutch play from junior Matt Pelesasa to reach overtime, when they took over, and won, 74-69.

James Sandoval paced the team with 25 points and nine rebounds, J.R. Valdez scored 19, and Pelesasa added 18 for the Wildcats, who improved to 11-9 (4-2 in league play), good for third place in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) South Division. They are only a game behind league leaders Sequoia and Menlo.

In their other game this week, the team lost at Menlo, 69-61, on January 25, despite getting 19 points and 13 rebounds from Sandoval. Woodside also got 15 points from freshman point guard Chris Crowder and 13 points and 10 boards from Valdez.

This week's games: February 1 at 4:30 p.m. at Carlmont; February 3 at 7:45 p.m. vs. Half Moon Bay
Woodside girls

The Woodside girls' team won one and lost one last week, bringing its record to 6-8 (2-4) and fourth place in the PAL South.

On January 25, the team beat Menlo, 48-45, at home. The Wildcats were led by sophomore Debben Hoffer, who scored 14 points, and junior Diana Ramies, who added 10. The team couldn't build on its winning momentum, though, and lost January 27 to first-place Sequoia, 38-26, at home. Woodside's leading scorer, Latisha Wilson, netted only seven points.

This week's games: February 1 at 3:15 p.m. vs. Carlmont; February 3 at 6:15 p.m. at Half Moon Bay
M-A girls

The Menlo-Atherton girls' team continued its strong league play this week, winning twice to bring its record to 17-4 (5-1) and a tie with Sequoia for first place in the PAL South.

On January 25, playing at home against a tough Carlmont squad that entered the game with the same record as M-A, the Bears pulled out a 65-59 overtime victory. Led by sophomore star Erica Hayes' 16 points and Sigourney Jellins' 12, M-A won by outscoring its opponent 30-16 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Bears won again on January 27, at Menlo, 57-36. Hayes displayed the kind of production the team can expect the next two seasons as she paced M-A with 21 points.

This week's games: February 1 at 4:45 p.m. vs. Half Moon Bay; February 3 at 4:45 p.m. at Sequoia
M-A boys

The Menlo-Atherton boys' team fell significantly this week, losing twice, and falling to 11-10 (1-5) and fifth place in the PAL South.

Forced to play without injured senior forward Spencer Montgomery, the team lost to Carlmont on January 25 at home, 45-39. Lacking much offensive punch, M-A's leading scorer was Stephen Call, who scored nine. The story was the same on January 27, when the Bears lost a tight game at Menlo, 51-47. Gorjan Hrustanovic led M-A with 14 points.

This week's games: February 1 at 4:45 p.m. at Sequoia; February 3 at 7:45 p.m. vs. Sequoia. (Both games will be broadcast on KCEA radio, 89.1 FM and online kcea.org).

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