Vikings run away from Lobos, clinch Coast-South title

West Valley outscored Monterey Peninsula 48-34 in the second half to pull away from the Lobos 77-57 in a Coast-South Conference clash Wednesday night in Saratoga. The win assured the 3C2A-top-ranked Vikings (26-0, 10-0 Coast-South) of at least a share of the league championship, its third since 2020.

The Vikings can win the title outright Friday (2/16) at Gavilan with a 5:00pm tilt against the Rams (10-15, 4-5).

Elijah Mahi and Shakir Odunewu took over in the second half Wednesday night against the Lobos (14-12, 3-7) with 13 and 12 points, respectively, after the break. Mahi's seventh second-half point gave WVC a 47-36 advantage with 11:42 left and an Ariya Briscoe three made it 50-38 a minute later. Odunewu scored all 12 of his second-half points inside the final eight minutes, as the 6-11 center threw down four dunks off pinpoint passing from Mahi, Briscoe, Jeremiah Dargan and Aaron Ragen. 

Mahi finished with a game-high 21 points, followed by Odunewu's 18. Malik Ross paced MPC with 18.

West Valley wraps up the regular season Friday, Feb. 23 against Foothill (12-13, 3-6) in Saratoga. Tipoff is 7:00pm.