Palo Alto, Los Altos boys rally to win CCS basketball games

Both the Palo Alto and Los Altos boys basketball teams used extended scoring streaks to earn victories in the second round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs Saturday.

Fifth-seeded Palo Alto (18-7) used a 27-4 run that began at the start of the second quarter and lasted into the third quarter, to earn a 46-34 victory over Cupertino.

Ryan Lykken led Paly with 16 points.

The Vikings, who have won five straight, travel to play No. 4 Alvarez (21-3) in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.

Sixth-seeded Los Altos beat Independence 61-51 by finishing the game on a 24-9 run.

The Eagles (19-5) travel to play No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (17-6) in the quarterfinal.

Second-seeded Mountain View (18-6) will entertain No. 7 Silver Creek (18-6) on Tuesday.

Los Altos senior Varun Madabhushi scored 11 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer, in the fourth quarter. Senior Jake Skaggs added eight points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in the deciding quarter.

Los Altos was down 42-37 early in the fourth quarter when Skaggs grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to spark the rally.

Skaggs driving layup with 3:35 remaining to play tied the game at 47 and Madabhushi followed with his 3-pointer.

Shawn Toney and Zach Fagin also scored in the fourth for the Eagles.

Girls basketball

Abbey Lu scored 10 points and No. 5 Los Altos beat No. 12 Mountain View 42-20 in the second round of the CCS Division I tournament Saturday.

Macy Watson and Tara Davari each added eight points for Los Altos (16-8), which plays at No. 4 Santa Teresa (13-5) in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.

Los Altos led 16-7 at halftime.

In Division IV, Yazmin Baroumond scored in the final minute to lift Sacred Heart Prep past Pacific Grove 42-41 Saturday.

It was SHP’s first postseason win since beating San Leandro in a state NorCal contest on March 3, 2020.

Baroumond’s basket was the fifth lead change of the fourth quarter.

Matlida Tangitau put the Gators (8-14) ahead twice, once with a free throw and again with a 3-pointer.

Kate Garlinghouse scored six points and Sophia Taylor hit a key 3-pointer in the final quarter for SHP, which travels to neighboring rival Menlo School in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.

By Rick Eymer

By Rick Eymer

By Rick Eymer