Sports

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
St. Francis High’s Paige Uyehara drives to the basket against Cathedral’s Alani Gainer in Friday night’s league game.

For the first three quarters of Friday’s game, the St. Francis High girls basketball team couldn’t make a shot. Layups rolled off the rim and jumpers clanked against the backboard or hit nothing but air.

Despite missing 46 of their 52 shots, the host Lancers entered the fourth period trailing Sacred Heart Cathedral by only nine points due to their dogged defense.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
Mountain View High’s Aaron Walters leaps over Los Altos High’s Nick Fletcher.

Beset by injuries last season, the Mountain View High boys soccer team missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. The Spartans have enjoyed better health this year, and coach Jim McGuirk is optimistic about their chances of returning to the postseason.

“It’s going to be hard – the teams in our league are pretty even – but I think we’re capable of finishing in the top three,” he said. “That’s our goal.”

The Mountain View High boys basketball team is alone at the top.

The Spartans entered this week as the only undefeated team in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.

St. Francis linebacker commits to Stanford

Stanford University announced last month that St. Francis High’s Joshua Pakola has officially accepted its football scholarship offer. The senior signed his National Letter of Intent Dec. 19. Pakola was recently voted the West Catholic Athletic League’s Most Valuable Outside Linebacker.

Meet-the-coaches event set for Jan. 23 at MVHS

Mountain View High’s parent/coach information meeting for the spring sports season is scheduled 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in the school’s Spartan Theater. The event is an opportunity for parents to meet the coaches and ask them questions. Discussion topics will include participation requirements, specifically sports physicals and registration. For more information, email athletic director Shelley Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..