It took two overtimes, but Heritage High’s girls varsity basketball team toppled Northgate last weekend 76-62 in the Northgate Tournament. The Patriots scored 17 points in the second overtime to claim victory, giving them a 6-2 record at week’s end.

Sophomore forward Ali Ramirez led Heritage with 21 points. Sophomore post player Sabrina Engelstad netted 15 points. Ramirez, Engelstand and sophomore guard Erin Asher were named to the all-tournament team.

“I expected this preseason to be a learning experience,” said Heritage head coach Lexy Tamony. “I didn’t really have expectations for wins and losses; I just wanted the team to be willing to learn and be coachable – and they’ve exceeded my expectations.”

December is treating Liberty well, as the Lions have started the month 4-3. As of Monday, they’re 5-5 overall, and looking forward to next week’s West Coast Jamboree.

Antioch will head into the Jamboree hoping to improve on its 2-8 record. The Panthers’ last loss came Dec. 16 in a 65-36 drubbing at the hands of Mission San Jose.

Boys basketball

Deer Valley senior forward Andre McPhail put up a double-double in last weekend’s 81-68 win over Rodriguez. McPhail scored 21 points and snagged 21 rebounds. DV ended the week 6-2 and will play in the St. Francis Holiday Classic starting Tuesday.

After a rough start, Heritage has turned things around, winning the Don Nelson Classic last weekend. The Patriots, who finished last week 5-3, eked out a 60-58 final-game win over Amador Valley. Heritage heads to Stockton on Monday for the Bear Creek Shootout, facing Stagg in the opening game.

Joining Heritage in the Bear Creek Shootout is Freedom, which ended last week on a three-game slide, losing to Berkeley, Piedmont Hills and Monte Vista. The Falcons play McNair on Monday.

Football

A handful of BVAL alumni will get national exposure in upcoming college bowl games. Southern Miss senior defensive tackle and Freedom alum John Henderson played in the recent Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.

Arizona redshirt sophomore center Kyle Quinn, from Liberty, makes his first collegiate start in the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma State on Dec. 29. Southern Methodist University senior cornerback and DV alum Sterling Moore competes in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 30. And freshman cornerback Avery Patterson, from Pittsburg, suits up for Oregon in the BCS National Championship game against Auburn on Jan. 10.

Correspondent Michael Dixon contributed to this story.