By Pete Borello

Prep Girls Hoop Scoop

Los Altos falls to Monta Vista in OT

Eagles clipped in OT

Los Altos dropped a 38-27 overtime decision to the host team last Friday in the Monta Vista High Tournament.

The Eagles, who scored only nine points in the first half, were led by Leslie Lam’s 10 points.

Los Altos went 1-2 in the tourney, opening with a win over Leland, then falling to Los Gatos.

Lancers open strong

The tournament dry spell is finally over for the Mountain View High girls basketball team.

The Spartans last Saturday won their first tournament championship in at least a decade, beating Woodside 53-49 in the finals of The King’s Academy Tournament in Sunnyvale.

Karl Hawkins, who spent five years as an assistant at Mountain View before taking over as head coach in 1997, said the Spartans had come close, but had never before won a tourney crown during his time on staff.

Mountain View (4-1) ended the dubious streak with what Hawkins called “a good team effort” against Woodside (4-1).

Jaclyn Brode scored a season-high 18 points for the Spartans and Emily Stetler added 13.

Defensively, Mountain View’s pressure defense gave Woodside fits.

“Woodside is a young, athletic team,” Hawkins said, “but they didn’t handle our press very well.”

The Spartans advanced to the finals by beating Branham and Mercy-Burlingame earlier in the week. Against Mercy, Stetler scored a season-best 19 points.

St. Francis opened its season with a 52-27 rout of host Mount Pleasant Dec. 3.

Ellen Porshneva led the Lancers with 12 points and Holly Cann scored 11.