Led by a strong performance by Viking junior Rocco Smith, the Palo Alto High School Boys basketball team (16-9) defeated the Evergreen Valley Cougars (15-9) 62-50 in the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs Tuesday night at home.
The game was decided in the third quarter of the game when the Vikings scored over twenty points. The Vikings started off the quarter with a layup on the break, 34-29. Then the Vikings quickly got a three with an open shot to put them ahead, 37-29. While Evergreen tried to respond with layups, the Vikings offense stayed strong keeping their lead 44-32. The Vikings then got two layups out of nowhere with Smith confidently driving through Evergreen players, 50-39. The Vikings continued this huge momentum with a quick turnover into a layup, ending out their quarter, 54-41. Overall the Viking’s lead from the third quarter made it difficult for Evergreen to recover in the final quarter.
According to Viking senior Kacey Washington, winning this game meant a lot to the team.
“A lot of fans came out to what could be our last home game, and it means a lot to come out with a win,” Washington said. “Just to play on this court and do it justice is a big thing for us and our seniors.”
In the fourth quarter the Vikings played defensively, with their 13 point lead over Evergreen. Strong teamwork and passing lead to several layups where the Vikings maintained their lead. The Vikings end the game with a pass from Smith to Senior Jake Wang to a layup, 62-50.
According to Smith, the Vikings were a bit nervous at the start of the game.
“At the start we didn’t really guard, and I think we were just a little bit nervous, but we settled in, especially in the third quarter,” Smith said. “ For a lot of us, that was our first playoff game ever.”
The game started with Evergreen getting back to back layups with the Viking’s Defense not being ready. Both teams exchanged points, but the Vikings managed to take a short lead with a clever pass from Junior Rocco Smith leading into a layup, 7-4. Following several layups from both teams Evergreen was able to comeback and take a lead after two consecutive threes, 9-10. The Vikings responded with a layup from senior Kevin O’Brien. Evergreen managed to make several layups, but Smith kept the Vikings in the game with a three, giving the Vikes the momentum to end the quarter at 19-17. Smith scored the majority of the points to keep the Vikings in the game.
In the second quarter the Vikings started out fast, with consecutive layups they extended their lead to 23-17. The Vikings then let Evergreen back into the game with poor defense 23-21. The Vikings managed to respond with a deep three from Smith, 26-23. Both teams exchanged points until the quarter ended, 32-29, the Vikings maintaining their lead.
According to Vikings Head Coach Jeff LaMere, making it this far so far means a lot to the team.
“It’s actually the 18th straight year we’ve made the playoffs, and to be able to make the quarterfinals is quite an accomplishment, especially for this team,” LaMere said. “I don’t think people expected much from these guys. They didn’t know what was going to happen when we lost 10 seniors, and these guys really competed the entire year, and I’m extremely proud of them.”
The Vikings will play in the Central Coast Section semi-finals against the Milpitas High School Trojans (24-1) 7 p.m. Thursday at Milpitas High School.
