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Bilek’s Last-Second Free Throws Help Saugus Hold Off Hart, 79-78

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Saugus High guard Rick Bilek’s two free throws with eight seconds left finally extinguished Hart’s late comeback bid and preserved a 79-78 nonleague victory Friday at Hart.

“There was no way I was going to miss those free throws. No way,” said Bilek, who led the Centurions with 21 points, 16 in the second half. Bilek converted four three-point shots and was 7 of 8 from the line as Saugus, the Southern Section 3-A Division champion a season ago, improved its record to 2-6.

The Centurions appeared to have the game clinched when they built a 77-69 lead with a minute to play. But a three-point basket by Darren Hinman and a three-point play by Curt Marzinzik cut the Saugus lead to 77-75 with 13 seconds to play.

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Bilek was fouled on the inbounds play and sank both free throws, then Hinman converted a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Guard Steve Valenzuela, who led Hart with 27 points, hit 6 of 11 from three-point range. Hinman (15 points), Brian Allen (12) and Marzinzik (11) also scored in double figures. Marzinzik led all rebounders with 13.

Vladimir Bilik scored 14 points for Saugus and had 10 rebounds.

The teams exchanged leads throughout the game. Hart (4-4) fell behind early, 13-5, but led, 16-15, after one period and, 35-31, at halftime.

Sparked by three three-point field goals by Bilek, Saugus took a 52-50 lead after three quarters. There were nine lead changes in the fourth period before Saugus finally assumed control.

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