Eyeballin' the 7th Annual West Valley College Holiday Classic

Until age and fatigue took over and forced a departure prior to the final game, here's some takes from Thursday's opening round of the West Valley College Holiday Classic:

* It was Foothill College 26, Diablo Valley College 25 at the half before the latter pulled away for a 69-57 victory.

* Most notable: DVC's Jermaine Edmonds looked perfectly comfortable knifing to the basket on dribble-drives throughout the game. He can penetrate into the paint and has the strength to finish with a good look. Don't know his academic status but the 6-foot-4 freshman could certainly move on after this season if he was eligible to do so coming out of Salesian High.

6-foot-2 Foothill frosh guard Janvier Alaby also had some very good moments -- he's extremely quick but in need of greater strength.

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Tournament host West Valley College led College of Alameda 36-24 after the first 20 minutes and finished with a 66-51 win.

Most notable: Viewing the Vikings on offense, one could come to the conclusion that the ball quickly heats up as a West Valley player holds it, hence the rapid fire, hot potato passing that takes place on the perimeter. That and Coach Scott Eitelgeorge must have instituted no-dribble zones in various areas on the court.

Stop the presses: West Valley players block out!!! The lost art is alive and well in Saratoga at least!

Liked what freshman guard Bill (Palo Alto High) Gray showed for the Vikings, who again are living the dictum regarding a cohesive group being more than the sum of its parts.

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Modesto Junior College and Monterey Peninsula College were tied at 28 come halftime and it stayed close throughout before the former triumphed 74-72.

Late in the second 20 minutes, freshman guard Will Burkett's trey at the 1:14 mark brought MPC to within one.

The Pirates then missed a free throw but 6-foot-7 Josh Allen grabbed the offensive board and scored.

After an MPC miss, Modesto's Eric Melgar was fouled with 26.5 seconds left. He missed his first attempt but connected on the second, putting MJC up 70-66.

For the Lobos, Shaun Hall then scored on a nice pass from Donovan Salvant with 16.8 seconds showing.

Pirate sophomore guard Evan Grimes was then fouled and he hit both from the charity stripe. MJC again was up by four, 72-68.

With 7.3 seconds on the clock, MPC's Burkett was fouled and caught nothing but net with both foul shots, making it again a two point differential.

Allen was promptly fouled in the backcourt and connected on his pair of free throws before Devin Koeplin scored for Monterey just before the clock ran out.

Most notable: Modesto's Josh Allen must have been a guard in a previous basketball life because he is an exceptional and unselfish passer. Add 25 pounds to his upper body and ain't nobody going to stay with him.

6-foot-2 Pirate guard Zach (River bank High) Gonzales, another freshman, showed well with a strong, live body. He didn't shoot much from outside but he was terrific at dribble penetration.

Lobo 6-foot-6 freshman Will Burkett, out of St. Francis (Watsonville), has the softest touch, an effortless release and his long range shooting produces the sweetest sound when it glides through the net. Burkett is also a Euro step master on his way to the hoop. Put 20 pounds on him and watch out.

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Apologies to Ohlone College and Lassen College for my geriatric-ness which caused the missing of their matchup.