SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIPS : Eagles Lose Composure and Game After Three-Point Shot Goes In, Out

A game-winning block, an off-balance three-point shot and a loss of composure in the final 25 seconds were too much for Estancia to overcome in the Southern Section Division III-AA championship game Saturday.

Estancia certainly had its chances. Trailing by one, forward Matt Fuerbringer stole a pass that gave the Eagles an opportunity to win their second consecutive title. Instead, the division’s top-seeded team wound up losing to Pomona, 48-45, at the Sports Arena.

Pomona’s Johnny McWilliams provided the big play, blocking Estancia guard Paul McDaniels’ eight-foot shot with six seconds left, but the Eagles weren’t through. The ball caromed to teammate Son Ly, who tossed up an off-balance, three-point shot that went in and out with four seconds remaining.

Pomona rebounded the ball with two seconds left, and Dedrique Taylor was fouled and sealed the victory with two free throws. Afterward, Estancia guard Mike Haas wondered if four lopsided playoff victories had worked against the Eagles.

“We lost our composure in the end,” Haas said. “There was a scurry, a sort of frenzy and I don’t think anybody knew how much time was left. I question whether we’re capable of winning a close game.”

McWilliams, who scored 42 points when the teams met in the second round of the playoffs last year, had eight points in the rematch. But he also had the biggest blocked shot of the game.

“McDaniels was frustrated the whole game,” McWilliams said. “He thought he was the man at the end. For me, it (the block) was just a reaction. It was a clean block. I knew I could get it as soon as he released it.”

McDaniels said the winning shot was supposed to go to Fuerbringer, who had scored eight consecutive points in helping Estancia wipe out a 44-34 deficit in the final six minutes.

“Matt was getting open pretty easy down low,” McDaniels said. “But they overplayed him and the clock was ticking. I saw an open lane and decided to take the shot. It felt good when I released it, but we’ll never know . . .”

Estancia’s outside shooters were way off target. Haas and McDaniels were three for 10 from the field; Ly was two for 12.

“That’s the worse the three of us have shot all year,” McDaniels said. “We had an off day, but we still had a chance to win the game in the end. I thought Son’s shot was going in and we were going to be champions.”