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The matchups between the Menlo and Menlo-Atherton boys’ basketball teams have been quite something this season. While the PAL South Division regular season has concluded, that local rivalry may have one more showdown this season.
If the Knights and Bears — they finished first and second in the South Division this season — are to meet again, it will be in Saturday’s Peninsula Athletic League playoff championship game at Burlingame High at 7:30 p.m.
Both teams put themselves a victory away from that possible matchup by winning their playoff openers Wednesday and advancing to Friday’s semifinals at Burlingame.
Menlo-Atherton made its trip to Pacifica worthwhile by toppling top-seeded Terra Nova, 66-53, in the opening round. The Bears (17-9) beat the Tigers (20-6) at their own game, a fast-paced track meet up and down the court.
“We had them gassed in the first quarter,” M-A coach Phil White said of his run-and-gun game plan. “They were tired.”
Terra Nova missed its first seven shots of the second quarter as M-A took a 31-21 halftime lead. Peter DeFilipps led the Bears with 23 points as he made all 13 of his free throws to help his team go 20 of 23 from the line. Brendan McGrath added 17 points while Sam Knapp finished with nine points and 17 rebounds despite taking an elbow to the bridge of his nose in the second quarter that cause bleeding and required bandages. Knapp scored eight of his points in the third quarter to help the Bears pull away.
M-A plays Friday against South San Francisco at 7:30 p.m.
Menlo (20-6) got 17 points from Will Tashman in a 48-33 win over visiting San Mateo on Wednesday. Tashman, a 6-foot-6 junior, made eight of nine shots while Marc Nguyen and Jerry Rice Jr. added seven points apiece.
The Knights need to beat host Burlingame on Friday at 4:30 p.m., to reach Saturday’s finals.
In the Private Schools Athletic League, Woodside Priory moved to within one victory of completing a second straight undefeated season in the PSAL with a 49-25 triumph over host Fremont Christian on Wednesday night. The Panthers (15-0, 21-4) grabbed a 19-3 first-quarter lead and coasted from there.
Ignas Pavilonis scored 13 points to lead Priory, which won its 35th straight PSAL game dating to the end of the 2006 season. Tyler Starling and 7-foot-2 Greg Somogyi added 10 points each for the Panthers, who close out the regular season on Friday against visiting Redwood Christian at 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart Prep rebounded from a disappointing loss to Woodside Priory last Saturday and toppled host Valley Christian-Dublin on Tuesday night, 62-47. The Gators (12-3, 15-8) got a season-high 18 points from junior Ben Taylor and a balanced effort from 10 other scorers while holding on to a share of second place in the PSAL.
Gunn and Palo Alto will meet on Friday in the Vikings’ gym at 7:45 p.m., to decide second place in the SCVAL De Anza Division.
Getting 13 points each from Stephen Castro, Richard Wiley and Kyle Perricone, Gunn held off visiting Los Gatos, 57-50, Wednesday night. The Titans (8-3, 16-8) clinched no worse than a tie for second place, no matter what happens in Friday’s regular-season finale.
Despite facing the worst team in the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Alto barely escaped with a 56-52 victory over host Fremont. The Vikings (7-4, 15-8) built a 31-15 halftime lead, but the Firebirds (1-11) outscored the Vikings 37-25 the final two quarters. Dom Powell (18 points), Kevin Brown (14) and Nick Robinson (12) led Paly.
Eastside Prep fell behind early and ended up dropping a 52-48 decision to St. Thomas More in the semifinals of the Christian Private Schools Athletic League playoffs on Tuesday night. Junior forward Ivan Prema led the Panthers (17-10) with 28 points.
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