It was not supposed to be this close, and it was closer than the 64-52 final score would suggest.

On paper, the game was a mismatch. The top-seeded Vikings came in 25-1, winners of 17 straight, and the defending Central Coast Section Division II champs. Woodside came in as only the eighth seed. The Wildcats finished in a tie for first in the Peninsula South Division, but only because Sequoia forfeited all its games.

In the first round, the Wildcats barely beat Leigh 71-70. The Vikings, with the top seed, gained a first round bye, which meant they will not have a home game, unless they win CCS.

“We definitely want to get back home for NorCal [Regionals],” said senior forward Kheaton Scott. “Besides, we play pretty well on the road.”

In an earlier match-up on Dec. 13, the Vikings pummeled the Wildcats 58-38 after falling behind early in the first quarter. Head coach Peter Diepenbrock hoped his team wouldn’t fall behind again.

“We don’t want to give them an early lead,” Diepenbrock said. “We want to wear them out from the beginning.”

Unfortunately for Diepenbrock and the Vikings, the Wildcats came out aggressive and did take an early lead. The Wildcats at one point made seven straight shots and finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 14-9 lead. The Vikings looked sluggish, except for star senior guard Jeremy Lin, who scored seven of his team’s nine points in the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats shot 6-9 and dominated the Vikings on the boards. With second and third chance opportunities, the Wildcats seemed to score at will, but the Vikings had Lin.

Shooting 4-6, Lin had 13 points in the quarter, one less than the entire Woodside team. As the clock ran down in the half, Lin looked to pass, but gave up and calmly knocked down a NBA range three-pointer as time expired to shorten the half-time lead to one.

The Wildcats, led by seniors James Sandoval and Edgardo Valdez, shot close to 60 percent in the half. Both Valdez and Sandoval hit shot after shot despite the Vikings’ tough perimeter defense.

Not counting Lin, the Vikings attempted only 11 shots in the half and made only three. Their rebounding was unusually poor, but their defense was not sub-par. Woodside’s 27-28 lead at the half is attributed to the Wildcats’ outstanding offense than the Vikings’ average defense.

In the third quarter, the Wildcats kept making difficult shots, but the Vikings started rebounding better and limiting second chance opportunities. Lin finally received some support from Scott, who was scoreless in the first half. Scott scored four points and pulled down six rebounds in the quarter. Combined with Lin’s seven, the Vikings entered the fourth quarter with a two point lead.

The Wildcats would not back down, having already equaled their point total from the last match-up. They opened the fourth quarter with a long three-pointer, but it was the last time they would have the lead.

With six minutes left in the game, Lin stole the inbound pass and scored a quick lay-up. In previous instances, the Vikings could not maintain the lead for long, but thanks to a bizarre play, the Vikings held on to the lead for good.

After a missed Viking shot, senior Kevin Trimble and Scott both went for the rebound. Scott caught the ball in mid-air about eight feet from the basket, but Trimble thought the ball had been caught by a Woodside player and swatted the ball out of Scott’s hands. The ball somehow floated right through the net. Trimble had two of his five points and Scott was credited with the unusual assist.

“Of course it was planned,” Trimble joked. “Kheaton and I had it all the way.”

The Paly fans erupted, despite being unsure of what had just occurred. Throughout the game, the fans became more and more convinced that the referees were being unfair. The game was physical and at times, it appeared certain calls seemed to be going the Wildcats’ way. That said, by game’s end, the Viking fans did not care about what they felt was questionable officiating.

The Vikings had a five point lead, but the Wildcats responded quickly. Senior guard Brad Lehman came right back with an enormous three-pointer, helping the Vikings pull away. With a minute left, Trimble hit a three on his only shot attempt, not counting the tip-in, to give the Vikings a 54-47 lead. As Trimble’s dagger fell through the net, the Woodside team and fans saw their season slipping away.

From there, desperation sank in for the Wildcats, who began fouling quickly to extend the game, but the Vikings made their free throws assuring the victory. The final score showed a 12 point margin of victory, but anyone who watched the entire game knew the game was far closer than the final score.

The Wildcats shot an amazing 58 percent, including 8-12 from beyond the arc. Sandoval finished with 24 points and Valdez finished with 12. Woodside played a magnificent game, but they wore down near the end and could not contain Lin.

Lin finished with an astonishing 33 points and added seven rebounds and four steals. Scott scored all 9 of his points in the second half and Lehman had seven of his 12 points in the final quarter.

“It was ridiculous,” Trimble said. “He [Lin] amazes me every day. There is nothing more you could ask of him.”

Lin is no stranger to taking the team on his shoulders, and after a season ending injury before the CCS finals last year, Lin was even more determined. Those 33 points did not come easy to Lin, who had to weave through defenders only to be fouled hard.

“I was just taking what they gave me and it worked tonight,” Lin said. “I tried to draw contact to get the three-point play and get them in foul trouble.”

Whenever the Vikings needed a big basket, Lin answered with a nifty lay-up or a pull-up jumper. Despite obviously being tired, Lin stayed in the game for the last three quarters, sitting out only a couple of minutes.

“I was definitely tired,” Lin said. “But I’d never come out, not as a senior, not in the playoffs.”

A good player helps his team win, but a great player senses when he needs to take his team on his back and carry them to victory. Without a doubt, Lin showed his greatness during this game.

"Jeremy stepped up when we needed it," Diepenbrock said. "As always, he does what needs to be done."

Whether he wants to admit it or not, Lin is a special player who had another special performance. Lin could not do it alone, and each player contributed to the win, but for the Vikings to advance further in the playoffs, they must return to the style of play that won them the top seed. Despite the unexpected drama, the Vikings gladly took the win.

In the semifinals, the Vikings face fourth seeded South San Francisco, who overpowered fifth seeded Aptos, 67-48. The two teams face off at 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Santa Clara High School. The winner advances to the finals against either second seed Archbishop Mitty or 11th seeded Santa Clara, who has already upset Gunn and Westmont. If the Vikings reach the finals, they will also clinch an automatic berth into the NorCal Regional Tournament.