Fourth-best team in City basketball to be decided

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The only thing uncertain about the City Section boys’ basketball season was which team would end up as fourth-best behind the powerful threesome of Taft, Fairfax and Westchester?

It should be decided on Wednesday, when Fremont plays host to Cleveland in the quarterfinals, with the winner earning a trip to the semifinals and an automatic berth to the state Division I playoffs.

Of course, Taft still has to get past Dorsey, Fairfax must beat Washington and Westchester has to knock off Crenshaw in the other quarterfinals to allow the big three to advance to the semifinals, but there would have to be giant upsets to prevent the favorites from moving on.

But Fremont and Cleveland are big surprises. Fremont hasn’t been in the playoffs the last two years because of sanctions. The Pathfinders keep improving behind forward Tony Freeland and Laron Armstead, pictured left. Cleveland has a terrific junior guard in Prince Obasi.

-- Eric Sondheimer

- Image by Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times