Publication Date: Wednesday Jan 28, 1998

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL: Menlo is taking aim at the PSAL title

With a balanced scoring attack, resiliency and an abundance of quickness and depth, the Menlo School boys' basketball team is the surprise of the Private Schools Athletic League this season. However, in the wide-open PSAL, the Knights must remain consistent in hopes of capturing a league title.

Under coach Kevin Karolak, Menlo has jumped out of the PSAL gate with a 5-0 record (12-3 overall) after coming from behind to edge visiting Pinewood, 55-49, last Friday night in Atherton.

The victory set up a showdown against the PSAL's only other unbeaten team, Fremont Christian, on Tuesday. At stake was sole possession of first place in a league where the champion probably won't be crowned until the final league game.

Menlo hopes to be that team, despite a lineup that features no player taller than 6-foot-3. The Knights rely on their transition and perimeter game for survival. With an effective pressing defense and solid coaching, the Knights have what it takes to win one of the most competitive leagues in the section.

"There is nothing we can do about our height (disadvantage)," said Karolak. "But we have good team speed and guards that can play in the post."

Against Pinewood (2-3, 8-10), the Knights displayed their ability to overcome adversity and made the right adjustments at halftime, wiping out a 14-point deficit en route to victory.

Led by 6-6 senior John Neil, Pinewood bowled over Menlo in the first half with its inside game, excellent man-to-man defense and accurate free-throw shooting (13 of 14). The Panthers led 31-19 at the break.

But after making just eight of 29 shots in the first half, Menlo found its groove offensively in the second half. More importantly, the Knights shut down Neil, who scored only three of his 18 points in the second half.

Pinewood hit on only eight of 29 shots in second half and attempted just two free throws as the Knights' defense clogged the inside lanes and forced the cold-shooting Panthers to fire from the perimeter.

Menlo's "Zach Attack" of senior guards Zach Trailer and Zach Knox, tallied 25 of their combined 31 points in the second half. They were assisted in the comeback by guards Kansas Henderson and Dave Nelson, who added a combined 21 points.

Menlo had its biggest lead at 43-39 with seven minutes to play, but Pinewood fought back to tie the contest at 47-47 with 2:15 remaining. But Menlo's outstanding guard play was the difference down the stretch, icing the game in the final 90 seconds.

After Knox nailed a three-pointer and Nelson made a driving layup with 52 seconds to play for a 53-48 Menlo lead, Trailer put the contest out of reach with a pair of free throws with seven seconds left.

Knox led Menlo with 16 points, with Trailer and Nelson adding 15 points apiece.

Fremont Christian remained tied with Menlo atop the PSAL standings with a 72-68 overtime win over Sacred Heart Prep (3-3, 10-8) in Atherton last Friday night.

Sacred Heart trailed 33-26 at halftime, but put together a 17-10 run to knot the contest at 43-43 after three quarters. After both teams played to a draw in the final quarter, Fremont outscored the Gators, 13-9 in the overtime period for the win.

Sophomore Dane Holderman led Sacred Heart with 23 points, as Sean Mackinnon and Luke Van Deman contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively.

In the competitive Peninsula Athletic League Southern Division, Menlo-Atherton (4-1, 12-5) remained in a first-place tie with Hillsdale and Woodside after a come-from-behind 80-70 overtime win at Sequoia last Friday night.

Senior Kwazar Thibeaux scored a career-high 30 points, while junior Jonathan Harrison and senior William Browm added 17 and 16 points, respectively, to help the Bears erase a 37-22 halftime deficit.

The contest was settled at the foul line where M-A and Sequoia combined to attempt an eye-popping 81 foul shots. The Bears made just 25 of 53 free throws, while Sequoia connected on 15 of 28.

Sequoia sent the game into overtime after making a three-pointer at the buzzer, then was outscored 13-3 in the extra period.

Eastside Prep took a break from Christian Private Schools Athletic League play, visiting Woodside Priory last weekend to post an 85-50 victory.

Three days of finals appeared to have taken its toll on the Panthers, who fell behind by 12-10 after one period. Eastside held a tenuous 29-27 halftime lead, as Terrell Virgil's 14 first-half points kept the home team in it.

The second half was all Eastside, which improved to 18-6 overall by outscoring its host, 56-23 over the final two quarters.

"Our defensive intensity took its toll in the second half," said Eastside coach Chris Bischof. "The team prides itself on its defense."

When Priory began forcing shots and missing them, Eastside grabbed the loose balls and took off. The Panthers also pressured Priory into ballhandling mistakes, taking full advantage with fastbreak layins.

"Once a team loses its composure," Bischof explained, "the momentum goes to us."

Calvin Brown, a classy sophomore point guard, led Eastside with 19 points. Sophomore center Dontae Smith added 14 points, as did freshman Kirk Washington. Sophomore forward Kiazi Malonga tallied 12, Elias Chavez had 11 and Terence Lockett contributed 10 in another balanced scoring effort.

Eastside is off until Feb. 9, when it returns to CPSAL play. The Panthers are 9-0 in league, with just two league games remaining.

Both Palo Alto (4-1, 12-7) and Gunn (2-3, 10-7) had byes last weekend, but continue play this week.

Paly hosted struggling Los Altos on Tuesday and is at Santa Clara Friday night in SCVAL De Anza Division play. The Vuikings are a game behind Milpitas in the division standings.

Gunn played Homestead on Tuesday and travels to Sunnyvale to battle Fremont on Thursday in SCVAL El Camino Division action. Saratoga leads the division at 5-0, while Fremont, Mountain View and Cupertino all are next at 3-2. 

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