Spartans raise money for coach's ailing wife Spartans raise money for coach's ailing wife (January 07, 2005)

Without key players, Mountain View takes loss

By Scott Campbell

For one afternoon, the game was about far more than basketball.

Despite losing 60-49 to Saratoga in a New Year's Eve matinee, Mountain View helped raise $1,578 for the ongoing medical care of Saratoga coach Mike Davey's wife Kathleen.

Eleven months ago, Kathleen Davey, 38, went into cardiac arrest while exercising at home. The Daveys' daughter Samantha, then 6, saved her mother's life by calling 911 in time for paramedics to re-start Kathleen's heart.

A still unresponsive Kathleen returned home on Dec. 11, but the Daveys' insurance coverage ended early last month. To help support Kathleen's medical care, proceeds from the gate and concessions at the game were collected for the Kathleen Davey Special Needs Trust.

"I felt really good about the opportunity to teach the life lesson to the kids," said Mountain View coach Bob Heckmann. "Here's an opportunity for the community to respond to someone in need, and they really rallied behind that."

Mike Davey was appreciative of the effort. "The community through this whole experience has been absolutley unbelievable. An opposing coach goes and sets up a fund-raiser for you. ... I'm just speechless. I don't have words to describe it."

On the court, the Spartans could not overcome Saratoga's aggressive defense. Though Mountain View compensated enough to pull within only four points entering the fourth quarter, a 12-2 Saratoga run pushed the game out of the Spartans' reach.

Without point guard Kevin Metsers, Mountain View fell into a first-quarter hole when its other starting guard, Chris Dasalla, was benched after committing two early fouls.

The Falcons (11-3) took advantage by using a full-court press to force eight turnovers, which helped them to a 30-24 lead at the half.

"We got nervous from the press," said junior forward Terence Willis, who led Mountain View with 16 points and nine rebounds. "We couldn't stick to our game."

With Dasalla scoring seven points in his third-quarter return to pull the Spartans to within 39-35, Mountain View had a chance to overtake the Falcons.

In the end, Saratoga, led by Chris Etterman's 18 points and his strong defense, closed out the Spartans.

"It's really hard to prepare for that full-court pressure," said Heckmann. "We didn't handle it well. Because they get you going like that, you tend not to execute when you do get it into the half-court."

The loss ended a frustrating preseason as Mountain View (7-7) now begins play in the upper De Anza Division. The Spartans will travel to Milpitas on Jan. 12.

For more information on Kathleen Davey's progress and how to assist her family, visit www.getwellkathleen.us.

E-mail Scott Campbell at sports@mv-voice.com

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