The Vikes had a big third quarter, then staved off a rally from a game Los Altos club, holding on for a 53-39 win.

"It was good for a young team like ours to get a win on the road," said Paly coach Pete Diepenbrock.

It seems like a different hero each night for the Vikes, who moved to 3-1 in league and 9-8 overall.

This time it was junior small forward Cliff Andersen, who knocked down 15 game-high points, with 7-for-7 free throw shooting.

The Eagles (4-11, 0-5 De Anza), who were stunned with news before the year started that promising 6-foot-9 center Geoff Patterson would not play on the team in order to concentrate on club swimming, played like caged animals that were hungry for a win.

Good start for Paly

The Vikings went through a rare no-turnover first period to lead 1911. But, the Eagles extended fullcourt pressure in the second frame and Paly started to get careless with the basketbali. The Vikes turned the ball over eight times on their way to a five-point second quarter output.

The third quarter brought a plethora of fouls whistled against the Eagles as the Vikings forged ahead. Los Altos was charged its sixth team foul with 4:34 lett in the third period.

Sophomore guard Gerry Hall appeared to drain a three-pointer, but was credited with a two-point goal. Diepenbrock bellowed for the trifecta, but got no response from either

official. Hall's ensuing follow shot gave Paly a 40-22 advantage late in the third period.

Paly's biggest lead of the night was 21 points, but the Vikes still couldn't shake the pesky Eagles. Sai Pela converted a three-point play with 6:30 remaining to slice the Vikings' lead to 14 points.

The Eagles' Daniel Contreras scored and was fouled, but missed the free throw.

Pela put back Contreras' miss and the Vikes lead was a precarious 10 points with 5:46 left.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, they could never get over that lO-point hump. Then, after playlng zone for 29 minutes, Los Altos was forced to ~o to man-to-man.

Diepenbrock wisely spread the floor and Vikes were able to salt the game away.

Diepenbrock has to be concerned about his club's ability to handle fullcourt pressure, as his young backcourt has had trouble handling the ball the past two games.

Time to work

"We've got to work on that more," said senior Aaron Wilson, who has been sharing a lot of time with talented sophomores Jon Whetstone and Gerry Hall. "This is my senior year. I'm going to have to step up.''

Whetstone had a big first period, hitting two treys, then dropping in three straight free throws after getting fouled beyond the arc.

In fact, it may have been a prep record for fouls on three-point shot attempts. Along with Whetstone, Andersen was sent to the line for three, as was the Eagles' Cam Mathews.

Wes Battle led Los Altos with 10 points, eight in the first quarter.