4-A BOYS : Fullerton’s Final Burst Overwhelms El Modena

Chris Burton wasn’t sure what to think after watching the Fullerton High School basketball team fall behind El Modena by eight points early in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

But the Fullerton coach sure didn’t panic.

He didn’t need to. And the Indians showed why.

Fullerton outscored El Modena, 27-6, in the final 6 minutes 55 seconds for a 73-60 victory in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs at Fullerton.

The Indians (12-12) advanced to Friday night’s second round against the winner of the Ganesha-Charter Oak game. El Modena ended the season at 13-11.

Early in the fourth quarter, it looked as though Fullerton would be staying home on Friday. Jon Leedom’s tipin with 7:08 remaining gave El Modena a 54-46 lead.

“We’ve been down eight points with two minutes left and still won,” Burton said. “We were down, but we were still in our game plan so I knew we were OK.”

That strategy included a half-court pressure defense that steered the ball away from El Modena forward Jeff Leedom, who finished with 17 points. Leedom played most of the fourth quarter with four fouls.

“Leedom was just drilling us,” Burton said. “Getting him in foul trouble was the key to the game. It took them right out of their game.”

El Modena Coach Tim Tivenan said the foul problems and pressure defense took away any offensive threat.

Burton said the Indians’ defensive scheme was a simple one.

“We just stopped playing weak-side defense,” Burton said. “We kept all five guys on the strong side and made it difficult for them to swing a pass around.

“That was the only major adjustment we made from the bench. The biggest adjustment was the kids’ confidence. They’re the ones who stepped up and hit everything.”

Did they ever.

Fullerton made 26 of 44 shots from the field, including nine of 10 in the fourth quarter.

The Indians made six consecutive shots--two jumpers, three layups and a three-pointer--in a 13-0 run to take a 59-54 lead with 3:38 left. It was the last of 13 lead changes in the game.

Rene Arias scored seven of his 16 points and Procopia Misa added six of his 20 in the fourth quarter. El Modena’s Greg Gottlieb led all scorers with 22 points.

Fullerton also looked to its bench for help. Reserve guard Ladd Brunner made two three-pointers in the final four minutes and finished with 13 points.

“The three-pointer has got us goin all season,” Burton said. “Everyone has taken his turn hitting them. Tonight it was Ladd.”

After a 37-37 tie at halftime, El Modena outscored Fullerton, 15-9, in the third quarter to take a 52-46 lead into the final quarter.

“I thought we played great defense in the third quarter,” Tivenan said. “Then we fell apart.”

Cypress 49, Mira Costa 48--Mira Costa (15-9) was leading, 48-47, when Cypress guard Jared Rice hit from the corner of the key with 17 seconds left. Rice led Cypress with 24 points.

Kennedy 62, North Torrance 50--Jim Barker had 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for host Kennedy (17-6). Billy Williams had 15 points and 15 rebounds for Kennedy.