The Wildcats drew a tough first-round opponent in the first round of the section tournament, Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division champion Leland. But the Cats gave those Chargers all they could handle before dropping a tight 68-64 decision.

What figured to be a rout when the No. 4-seeded Chargers took on the No. 13 Wildcats turned out to be anything but.

Leland opened up an eight-point lead in the first period and led by 14 at the half, 39-25. But Los Gatos wasn't about to go down without a fight.

The Wildcats outscored Leland 20-8 in the third quarter to turn it into a two-point game heading in the fourth with the Chargers up just 47-45.

The Cats hung right with the Chargers in the final period, but ended up losing by four.

Leland improved to 20-5 for the year with the win, but lost 47-41 to Palo Alto a game later to face elimination from the tournament. Los Gatos finished the season 12-14.

Freshman Madeline Rose and senior Bailey Richardson finished the year with solid performances for the Cats. The two shared game-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece. Rose pitched in five shots from the field and added three points at the free-throw line, and Richardson had a three-pointer among her six field goals.

Jessica Norvelle, Annie Green and Katy McClenathan supported with nine points each. Norvelle and Green each popped three-pointers.

Monica Thomas tossed in eight points, Geselle Birang had two and Desiree McEntee hit one.

The Los Gatos boys, meanwhile, were also eliminated in the first round at CCS. The Wildcats lost 68-49 to Woodside in the opening round of the Division II tournament. The Cats finished the season with an 11-16 record overall.

Playing their final game for the Wildcats were senior standouts Mike Robards and Matt Martini.