Sports Shorts

HOOP STANDOUTS . . . The high school basketball season didn't end quite the way Kacey Scheppler, Mia Sibug or Ben Selby had wanted. Scheppler's Pinewood team fell in the Northern California finals, Sibug's Paly girls' team was ousted in the second round of CCS action and Selby's Palo Alto boys' squad also was eliminated in CCS play. While their respective seasons ended in those tournaments, their prep careers were extended through last weekend, when all three contributed to their teams in the annual Santa Clara County Classic all-star tournaments at Bellarmine Prep. In the boys' game, Selby showed why he was named MVP of the SCVAL De Anza Division as he tallied 10 points for the North in a 79-73 victory over the South. In the girls' game, Sibug had a fine game with 16 points to spark the North to a 70-68 win over the South. Sibug scored 12 points in the first half. Paly teammate Lindsay Terry added a point for the North. While her South team came out on the short end of the score, Scheppler did all she could by scoring a game-high 19 points, 15 coming on five three-pointers. Her final three-pointer knotted the game at 65-65, before the North pulled away in the final two minutes. In another all-star tournament, Stanford women's basketball recruit, 6-foot-2 guard Lindsey Yamasaki of Oregon City, Ore., scored 16 points to win MVP honors at the annual Nike/WBCA All-America high school game in Hartford, Conn. Yamasaki's team defeated the "Red" all-stars, 78-75.

SOCCER TEAM ADVANCES . . . The Palo Alto Soccer Club's Pumas, a Boys Under-17 CYSA team, defeated the Almaden Soccer Club, 2-0, last weekend to advance to the next round of the CYSA State Cup competition--a date with the San Carlos Strikers on April 18. The Pumas ended a scoreless first half when Tom Allen knocked in a header off a free kick from fellow Gunn student Luis Amaya. With five minutes to play, Paly standout Bardia Talebi provided an insurance goal for the Pumas when he got free on a breakaway. Sweeper Pierre Corval and goalie Christophe Campas provided outstanding defense for the Pumas. Other members include Sean Whalen, Danny Vorhaus, Amund Schweder, Andy Riter, Robert Randich, Brian Purdy, Joe Niederman, Eduardo Lay, Nikos Hunner, Noah Hoyle, Geordie Gordon, Audren Cashman, and Christian Brugard.

HOOP CHAMPS . . . The Zone, an AAU 12-under girls' basketball team based in Palo Alto and Menlo Park, walked off the court with top honors recently at the Sebastopol AAU tournament. The Zone crunched the host Sebastopol Lady Tigers, 55-35, in the championship game. Players on the team included Elizabeth Balassone, Jennifer Bow, Jane Dunlevie, Wesley Ellison, Shannon Feehan, Julia Lippe-Klein, Megan Martin, Annie Montgomery, Rebecca Rundle and Lauren Tippets. Montgomery missed this tournament to be with her father, Stanford men's coach Mike Montgomery, at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.

SOCCER NEWS . . . Palo Alto AYSO is preparing for the fall season. Returning players will receive registration in the mail, but those new to Palo Alto or thinking of joining must register in person at the Cubberley Community Center. Signup dates are April 27 (Room A-3) from 7-9 p.m. or May 16 (Room H-6) from 2-4 p.m. Positions on teams are guaranteed until May 31. After that, the registration fee is higher and players will be put into a pool, to be selected randomly. There are no tryouts and no cuts. Beginners are welcome. Everyone plays at least a half game each time. Teams will be formed in August . . . The Portola Valley Flash, an Under-16 girls Class I CYSA team, is looking for one or two dedicated players who wish to have a year-round soccer experience. The team is filling the final positions this spring for the fall season. Those interested in trying out must have birth dates after 8-1-81 and should contact Gary Ireland at World Soccer (327-9153) or manager John Wachtel (854-4920) to arrange a tryout time . . . A few positions are available for a goalkeeper/striker clinic put on by former San Jose Clash goalie Tom Liner. Space is limited. Interested players should contact Liner at 595-3224.

FINAL FOUR TICKETS . . . Ticket applications for the 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Final Four in San Jose are available now through May 1. Individuals wishing to apply for tickets must use an official application in its original form. To request an application: call (913) 831-1234 or write to NCAA Women's Final Four, P.O. Box 410619, Kansas City, Mo., 64141-0619. Approximately 9,000 tickets will be allocated to the general public for the tournament, which is being hosted by Stanford in cooperation with the San Jose Sports Authority. Each ticket application may request a maximum of four tickets per entry. Applications must be received (not postmarked) no later than midnight May 15. The Final Four will be at the San Jose Arena from March 26-28, 1999.

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