Halfcourt swish punctuates Palo Alto's victory at top seed Dublin

Video: Highlights of Palo Alto vs. Amador Valley
Great clips of Palo Alto standouts Miles Tention, Max Dorward and Will Schmutz.

DUBLIN, Calif. — A nearly perfect first quarter by Palo Alto at top Division 1 seed Dublin was capped at the buzzer by a startling, majestic 50-foot swish by 5-foot-9 junior Will Schmutz over the outstretched arm of 6-7 Jack Nielsen.

What figured to be a footnote in the Vikings' terrific 83-80 upset victory on Saturday turned out to be the deciding bucket, the only one Schmutz scored in an exciting and entertaining contest filled with them.

"I saw the big guy and had to shoot it really high," Schmutz said. "We practice halfcourt shots sometimes at the end of practice but I never make them. I was really surprised it went in. I don't know how it went in."

See full play-by-play scoring here

It might just be in the cards for the ninth-seeded Vikings (25-4), who won the Central Coast Section championship 66-63 over Los Gatos on a long 3-pointer at the buzzer by Spencer Rojahn — his only bucket of the game.

Palo Alto, which was disappointed it didn't get invited into the CCS Open Division, has come out smelling and playing like a rose. Especially on Saturday, getting 22 points from Max Dorward and 17 by Miles Tention, leading five in double figures. Will Schlemmer (13 points) made four clutch free throws down the stretch and Bryant Jefferson and Jack Simison added 10 tough points apiece for the Vikings, who fought back a 12-point deficit Wednesday to win on the road against Fremont-Oakland.

The team has been on the road all season while its home gym is being renovated. Nothing seems to phase or deter these Vikings, who have a history of unlikely wins under coach Peter Diepenbrock. Palo Alto pulled off one of the greatest upsets in state basketball history with a 2006 state title over Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

That team was led by Jeremy Lin.

"It just came down to a bunch of guts," Tention said of Saturday's win. "We knew Dublin was really talented and we'd have to play our best game of the season. We started out fast and kept our composure down the stretch. That was a great game to be a part of."

The Vikings made 11 of 15 shots in the first quarter, took a 26-18 lead, maintained a double-digit lead most of the way, then held on for dear life against a game and athletic Dublin squad (29-5), which got 28 points from super freshman Robby Beasley.

The Gaels scored 29 in a frantic fourth quarter, mostly without their top player Tim Falls, who fouled out with 6:13 left, but Palo Alto made just enough plays and free throws to advance to Tuesday's semifinals at St. Mary's-Stockton.

"I don't think we could have played better than we did in the first half," Palo Alto coach Peter Diepenbrock said. "To beat a team like that we had to play our best. We feel like we can play with any team — even the open teams — and I think we showed that tonight."

Dublin coach Tom Costello kept his team in the locker room well after the game. It was a tough defeat, especially for the four seniors. Costello reminded them of their 52-9 record over the last two seasons.

"It's a tribute to their hard work and the foundation they built," Costello said. "There was a lot of expectation hanging over us all year. Tonight, I just think Palo Alto outworked us. We fought hard though. Just caught some tough breaks."

With his team down 47-35 at halftime, the Montana-bound Falls scored five quick points and got the Gaels to within 51-44. But he picked up his fourth foul, sat out the rest of the third, then played 1:47 of the fourth. He finished with 12 points. Steven Houston added 12 and Conner Jackson 10 for the Gaels.

The Gaels cut the lead to 53-48 late in the third, but like they did all night, the Vikings responded with consecutive hoops by Schlemmer, Paul Jackson III and Jefferson.

In the fourth, Palo Alto extended its lead to 14 twice, the last time 74-60 on a putback by Simison. From there, the Gaels kept chipping away with free throws and three-pointers, the last coming from Houston with two seconds to play to cut it to 82-80.

Tention was fouled with 1.2 seconds left, made the first free throw, missed the second but Houston's full-court heave was well short.

Unlike Schmutz' heave at the end of the first quarter.

"When I made it, I didn't think it would help us win the game," Schmutz said. "I'm just happy I could help us win and that we'll be practicing together another week."