Palo Alto set the stage for Friday's showdown with first-place Mountain View by running past host Milpitas, 68-47, in a SCVAL De Anza Division game on Wednesday. The Vikings (5-1, 15-2) will host the Spartans (6-0, 15-3) on Friday at 7:45 p.m., with a chance to avenge their only division loss.
Palo Alto tuned up for that rematch as junior E.J. Floreal poured in 26 points and senior Israel Hakim added 15. The Trojans (2-4, 10-8) kept it close at halftime (28-22), but the Vikings pulled away with a 25-point third quarter.