Rival Monta Vista came to play in a 4-game quad with both the girls and boys basketball teams on Friday. Both girls teams defeated the Matadors, but in the boys games, it was a split decision.

In the JV game, the Vikings hosted the 6-0 in league Matadors, who were looking to cement their status as the money favorites for the El Camino League Championship. It was a sour start for the Matadors as the Vikings were able to jump out to a quick 7-2 lead. Predictably the Matadors with their superior height were able to claw back the lead and eventually finish the quarter with a 20-14 lead in a high-energy quarter.

"Wrong" Rong came off the bench for the Vikings and was able to hit two threes and all four of his foul shots in the first half, leading the Vikings to an 11-10 2nd quarter to pull within five points despite some horrendous unforced turnovers. Monta Vista's top scorer responded with 9 of his 21 points in the 3rd quarter - and 9 of MV's 12 points during the quarter. During a 3-minute span early in the 3rd, the Matadors went on a run distancing themselves from the Vikings who feel behind by double digits. Lynbrook Head Coach Jeff Bale said, "Well, everybody and their mom knows who the best shooter and primary option is out there for them, pretty easy call there."

MV would win the 4th 12-8, and secure the 54-42 victory. "Wrong" Rong would score six of Lynbrook's eight forth quarter points. The Vikings had 23 turnovers in the game and drop to 4-3 in league, with Monta Vista now holding a commanding multiple game lead going into the back half of league games.

In the Varsity matchup, MV quickly scored the game's first 8 points before Lynbrook responded with four 3-pointers including three by "Chainz" Marks as Lynbrook captured the lead. Both teams saw little interior defense as drives increasingly led to buckets. Lynbrook held a five-point lead at half 37-32.

A "Old Man Jheri Curl" baby hook shot with 5:40 left in the 3rd quarter gave Lynbrook a solid 11 point lead with the score 45-34. Following a slew of free-throw misses by Monta Vista, Lynbrook looked poised to expand the lead even further but a series of missed treys and a turnover kept the lead at 11. "Chainz" Marks even took a solid offensive foul in the key hyping up the Vikings. Unfortunately for Lynbrook, their dry spell nearly completely evaporated their lead. MV scored a rapid 6 points and then chipped away until the end of the 3rd had Lynbrook up only 2 points with a 50-48 score, the Vikings having blown the lead.

The Vikings would reestablish a 56-50 lead but the slow and persistent Matadors tied things at 56 with a jump shot with 4:36 to go in the game. Still tied at 60 with less than a minute to go, MV made a disastrous move as they attempted to purposely foul "Lil Puddle" Dwivedi as he drove the hoop. The unsuccessful wrap foul allowed "Lil Puddle" to toss up a scoop shot that went in to the horror of MV fans and the delight of the Lynbrook faithful. After hitting the free-throw the Vikings held a 3 point lead, which was matched by a banked three pointer by Monta Vista. The final opportunity for Lynbrook came with the score tied at 63. An inbounds play on the baseline found a wide-open "Lil Puddle" for an eight foot jumper, the result of a Matador player goofing on defense and getting spun around. The shot went in and time expired giving the Vikings a thrilling 65-63 victory.

The game never would have been close without the sensational contributions of Viking guard "Jin n Tonic" Jin who scored double-digits with a series of seemingly circus style layups as he weaved and bobbed through the Matador defense. "He was incredible" Head Coach Rick Appler said after the game referring to "Jin n Tonic" and his play. Assistant Coach Ajit Vijayakumar added, "He put his mind to it." The victory gives Lynbrook a 4-3 record in El Camino play halfway through league. The Vikings stand tied in third with Fremont and currently hold the tie-breaker with the Firebirds.