Prep Basketball : Carson Beats Fairfax, 49-48

Anthony January sank a 15-foot jump shot with eight seconds remaining to give Carson High School a 49-48 basketball victory over Fairfax Wednesday in a City 4-A quarterfinal playoff game at Fairfax.

January’s clutch basket saved the win for Carson, which saw its second-half lead of 14 points crumble under a 20-1 Fairfax run. Junior forward Sean Higgins, who scored 22 points, led the spree with 12 points to give Fairfax a 46-41 lead with 3:18 left.

The teams traded baskets, leaving Fairfax with a 48-43 lead with 2:10 remaining. January, who finished with 19 points, then scored six straight points, including his 15-footer with eight seconds left, for a 49-48 lead. Fairfax had a final chance, but J.D. Green missed a 25-footer, and the Lions couldn’t control the rebound as time expired.

With the win, Carson advanced into the semifinals against the state’s No. 1-ranked team, Crenshaw, which defeated Manual Arts, 103-79.

In the other 4-A semifinal game, Cleveland will play San Pedro, a 70-66 winner over Westchester. Cleveland advanced with a 93-78 victory over Fremont at Cleveland as UCLA-bound Trevor Wilson had 29 points and 21 rebounds.

In the 3-A, City scoring champion Jerry Simon had 26 points and 20 rebounds to lead No. 1-ranked Marshall to an 82-67 win over San Fernando at Los Angeles Wilson High. The No. 2-ranked team in the 3-A, Granada Hills, was upset by Jefferson, 58-57, in overtime.

In Southern Section girls’ action, the top two teams in the 4-A each routed their second-round opponents. No. 1-ranked Pasadena Muir (26-0) defeated Upland, 79-30, whileVentura Buena, ranked No. 2, forced 28 turnovers by Thousand Oaks en route to a 66-38 win.