BOYS BASKETBALL: Lynbrook Dribbles Past Los Gatos

The Score: Lynbrook 52, Los Gatos 51

The Star: Senior Patrick Fang scored 17 points for Lynbrook and dominated play on the boards. Fang added nine points in the final half to help the Vikings fend off the Wildcats.

The Turning Point: Lynbrook coach Tim Kenworthy took a timeout to calm down his team after Los Gatos went on an 8-0 run to start the third quarter. The Vikings responded by using their speed on both ends of the court to bring the score within three points.

The Quote: “We don’t have much height in comparison to these other teams in (our) league,” said Lynbrook coach Tim Kenworthy. “So we just have to play the best defense that we possibly can and really hustle and just play good team ball. Tonight it worked out for us.”

What's Next? Lynbrook hits the court next against Homestead at home on Jan. 18.

Bottom Line: What the Vikings lacked in size against the Wildcats, they made up for in speed and tenacity. Lynbrook’s speedy players created havoc on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball all night to get its first league victory of the season.

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Heading into Tuesday’s contest against Los Gatos, Lynbrook boys basketball coach Tim Kenworthy knew it was going to be another tough contest for his squad on the road.

But with hard work, speed and feistiness on defense, the Vikings squeezed out a 52-51 victory against the Wildcats in Los Gatos in a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza divison contest.

“It was a very exciting game,” Kenworthy said. “Both of our teams have struggled the last couple of games. Both (teams) were really hungry to get a win, and I think that showed with how hard both teams played.”

Led by senior Patrick Fang and junior Alex Ma, the Vikings earned their first league win on the season. Fang and Ma contributed 17 and 13 points respectively and played strong defense to help fend off Log Gatos late in the game.

Los Gatos started off the game on fire and took an early 11-4 lead. Five Wildcats’ players found their way onto the score sheet, and Kenworthy was forced to use a timeout early to get his players on track.

With the height advantage going to Los Gatos, Lynbrook had to rely on its speed and grit to fight its way back into the game.

“We don’t have much height in comparison to these other teams in (our) league,” Kenworthy said. “So we just have to play the best defense that we possibly can and really hustle and just play good team ball. Tonight it worked out for us.”

Lynbrook juniors AJ Zavala and Brandon Yamauchi each hit 3-pointers late in the first quarter to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 17-12 heading into the second frame.

Both teams traded leads in the second quarter as players from both squads stepped up the tempo. With less than five seconds to go, Fang drove to the basket and scored to tie the game at 29.

“I thought they played very well,” Kenworthy said. “We were fortunate to stay in the game. They got up on us early, but we were fortunate enough to come back and tie it up heading into the half.”

The second half started much like the first quarter with the Wildcats going on an 8-0 run and forcing Lynbrook to make another comeback.

Los Gatos hit three 3-point shots to go up 43-39 heading into the final quarter, and it looked as though the Wildcats would easily put away the visiting Vikings.

The Vikings went cold from 3-point land in the fourth quarter after being hot from behind the arc in the first three quarters. Los Gatos only made two three-point shots in the final frame, which allowed Lynbrook to make its final comeback.

“They came out on that run in the third,” Kenworthy said. “I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to catch up. But we used some patience, made some shots and played some decent defense to get back into the game.”

Lynbrook held off Los Gatos in the final minute as the Wildcats threw a flurry of shots in the final minute of play.

Los Gatos senior Nick Lamson hit a 3-point shot with three seconds left on the clock to bring the Wildcats to within one, but the home team was unable to retrieve the ball.

Lynbrook hits the court next against Homestead at home on Jan. 18.

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 Lynbrook Top-3 Scorers

Fang – 17

Ma – 13

Nittur - 8