GILROY -- Ahead of the 3C2A Tournament selection weekend, No. 10 West Valley basketball spoiled Gavilan College's sophomore night in a big-time blowout win. The Vikings (22-6) led wire-to-wire against the Rams (2-26) with some flare, defeating Gavilan 116-52.

Fully healthy for the first time since the start of the new year, the vamped-up Vikings jumped out to a 24-0 lead spanning two full lineups. The starting five was terrific early, with Ryan Roth continuing his hot three point shooting and a high-low game with Caleb Asante and William Amoah doing numbers against a broken Gavilan defense. Halfway through that stretch, the Vikings brought out an equally-effective second unit, with the previously-struggling Cyrus Hassan finding his shooting stroke again, drilling a pair of early 3's.

Overall, it was a terrific night for Hassan. The freshman guard finished with a season-high, and game-high, 18 points, drilling four 3's while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists. It was clear from the start that the Vikings wanted to get Hassan going, as his first shot was a slightly-contested, in-rhythm 3 from the left wing off a feed from fellow freshman Antonio Kellogg Jr. Kellogg Jr's play on the ball allowed Hassan, one of the smoothest natural shooters on the team, to play off the ball and fire off catch-and-shoot triples at will.

Spearheading the opening lineup, Isaiah Ackerman got going early on, picking a pocket while taking the ball coast-to-coast for an easy score. Ackerman also had a fantastic all-around game, scoring in double figures while pulling down six boards with two steals and a block. The freshman trio of Kellogg Jr, Hassan and Ackerman had one of its finest nights of the season, all three of whom seem like they're finding a rhythm late.

Even while playing around 20 minutes and sitting most of the second half, Amoah's ascension to startdom in the second half of the season has been a spectacle to watch. The sophomore is often one of the most animated players on the court, noticable with his 6-foot-8 frame and gargantuan wingspan, and he scored 15 points while pulling down nine rebounds (three offensive) and continuing to inch closer to the West Valley modern-era record for most offensive rebounds in a single season. After his play against Gavilan, Amoah is up to 105 offensive rebounds, surpassing Mahmoud Fofana for second place. In first is Shakir Odunewu, another one-year talent who dominated the offensive glass before reaching the four-year level.

Once the starters came out for good in the second half, Aaron Biebel shined, not just with his play but by virtue of being on the court and available. After being injured earlier this season against Feather River, Biebel returned and hit a pair of 3's, getting a loud ovation from the bench when he checked in the first time, an even louder one when he nailed a 3 from the left corner and one accompanied with a laugh as he banked one home from the right wing. It was a picture-perfect return to the lineup for the reigning Coast-South Defensive Player of the Year, but just the fact that he was available was huge for the mentality of the Vikings as they push into the playoffs. 

Bryce Buchanan continued a late-season run with a 15-point, nine-rebound near double-double against Gavilan. He's been a presence on the boards throughout the season but has peaked at the right time offensively, scoring in double figures off the bench twice over his last four games while being a calming, veteran presence in the second unit.

While the Vikings could not clinch another conference title, as San Jose City College took down Hartnell at home to claim it, the way the team rebounded late from a rough early stretch in conference play should be applauded. Now, they await their postseason fate ahead of selection weekend.