Prep Basketball : Freeway League Roundup : Fullerton Comes Back Again to Beat La Habra

Not until guard Rene Arias made an 8-foot jump shot with 5 seconds left in the game did Fullerton High School finally edge La Habra.

Arias’ basket capped a furious rally and gave Fullerton a 73-71 Freeway League victory over La Habra Friday night at Fullerton.

With 2:28 left, La Habra’s James Clegg made one of two free throws, giving the Highlanders an apparently safe 70-61 lead. At that point, La Habra was only moments away from knocking off the league-leading Indians.

But it all unraveled in the final moments for La Habra, now 11-10 overall, 5-3 and in third place in the Freeway League. Fullerton is 15-5, 8-0.

It was yet another in a series of remarkable comebacks for Fullerton this season. The Indians have rallied from deficits of 20, 11, 14 and, in the first meeting with La Habra, 16 points.

In the first game against La Habra, the Highlanders appeared to have the game won with a 16-point lead with 4 minutes left.

Friday’s comeback wasn’t quite as dramatic, but it left Fullerton in sole possession of first place.

“You know what? You can’t give on these guys,” Fullerton Coach Chris Burton said. “The kids did it. I have to sit on the bench and be a nervous wreck.”

La Habra led throughout the fourth quarter, but Fullerton outscored the Highlanders, 12-1, in the final 2:28.

A three-pointer by Arias with 1:18 to go, pulled Fullerton to within 71-69. Then, with 54 seconds left, La Habra guard Albert Razo was called for charging, giving the ball back to Fullerton.

Fullerton’s Pete Bach, who had a game-high 30 points, dropped a pass inside to Lee Green for an easy layup to tie the score, 71-71.

With 11 seconds left, Razo threw a pass intended for Clegg, who was cutting toward the basket, out of bounds.

Fullerton called timeout and set up a play to go to Bach, who made six three-pointers in the game. Arias was to bring the ball upcourt and drive until the Highlanders stopped him, then pass the ball to Bach for what was Fullerton hoped would be an open jumper.

Arias found an opening, so he left fly with an 8-footer in the key. The ball swished through, hitting nothing but the net.

“I played bad all night, but hitting that shot was a relief,” said Arias, who had eight points.

La Habra had one last chance, but Anthony Ortiz’s half-court shot hit the gym’s rafters and fell short as the buzzer sounded.

Guard Tim Moore led La Habra with 19 points, 15 in the first half. Razo added 15.

Sonora 53, Troy 51--Greg Farlow scored on a layup as time expired for visiting Sonora. Troy had the ball but missed a shot with eight seconds and Brian Holt tiped the loose ball to Farlow, who dribbled the length of the floor. Farlow ended with 10 points, Holt had 16 and Matt Recktenwald had 11 for Sonora (8-13, 3-5). Richard Wesley scored 23 points and Mike Abott 15 for Troy (6-14, 1-7). Troy trailed, 25-20, at the half but rallied to lead, 39-36, after three quarters.