Burlingame and Menlo-Atherton were widely believed to be top teams in the PAL-South coming into the 2016 season, and many thought both would be 10-0 in league when they meet in Atherton on February 9. While the Bears have done their part, winning their first three league games by a combined score of 210-90 (an average score of 70-30 against Capuchino, Sequoia, and San Mateo), the Panthers struggled last week against Aragon and Capuchino before putting them away late.
And then they lost to Hillsdale.
Hillsdale guard Taiga Schwarz scored 31 points Wednesday in Burlingame, including 28 in the first half to lead the Knights to the 55-49 upset victory. Menlo-Atherton is now alone in first place at 3-0, while Mills, Woodside, Burlingame, and Sequoia are all 2-1.
“We need to work on our effort a little bit more,” Burlingame guard Vinny Ferrari, who scored 18 points in the loss to Hillsdale, said. “We play to the level of our competition, so against good teams we play hard, but against bad teams, we don’t try at all.”
Hillsdale, meanwhile, after dropping two close games to Carlmont and San Mateo, made a statement by upsetting one of the league’s top teams Wednesday. The Knights look to fight their way back into the race for a spot in the PAL tournament (the top four teams in each division advance).
After a rough non-league slate, defending South champion Mills, led by Brandon Matsuno, has won two in a row and with a win at Burlingame on Friday would be firmly in the pack at the top of the division.
Another surprise thus far has been Woodside, which was winless in league play last year but has started 2-1 in 2016, including a win over Mills. The Wildcats host Sequoia on Friday in what could be a key game in determining the division’s top four teams. The Cherokees, the defending PAL tournament champs, also come in at 2-1, their only loss being a blowout at Menlo-Atherton.
Key South games this Friday (7:45 p.m.): Mills (5-9, 2-1) at Burlingame (10-4, 2-1), Sequoia (8-7, 2-1) at Woodside (6-3, 2-1)
In the North, overwhelming favorite Half Moon Bay’s high-powered offense has averaged 68 points per game en route to a 4-0 league start. But just one game back is surprising South San Francisco. The two teams were both 3-0 before the host Cougars routed the Warriors 67-25 on Wednesday. Half Moon Bay appears to be the team to beat in the North, and their biggest challenge remaining will likely come from old foe Terra Nova, with whom they shared the division title last season.
Key North games this Friday (7:45 p.m.): South San Francisco (9-7, 3-1) at Jefferson (8-5, 1-1), Westmoor (3-12, 1-2) at Terra Nova (8-6, 2-1).
