DIVISION I BOYS’ PLAYOFFS : Fremont Fights Off Furious Poway Rally

Poway High’s second chance in three days for an upset over a highly favored opponent fell short Thursday night when Los Angeles Fremont held off the Titans, 44-41, in a Southern California Regional Division I semifinal at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

In a quarterfinal game on Tuesday night, Poway upset L.A. Manual Arts, 72-68.

“Ever since the end of league, it’s kind of been a dream,” said Poway Coach Doug Wealch. “But it was like an uphill battle (after the first half). We never had control and we never really got back up the hill.”

Poway recovered from a 13-point deficit, 32-19, early in the second half to close to within one, 42-41, with 2:45 remaining after guard Mark Wuchner sank both ends of a one-and-one. But its comeback bid went no further.

Over the final minutes of the game, Fremont spread out its offense and ran more than a minute and a half off the clock, forcing Poway to foul with 31 seconds remaining. Fremont missed two straight free throws, both front ends of one-and-ones, and with 19 seconds left, Poway’s Kyle Milling rebounded Fremont’s second missed free throw and was fouled.

Milling could have put Poway in front for the first time in the game since the Titans led 3-2 midway through the first quarter. But Milling missed the free throw, and Fremont’s Tyrone Holliness rebounded it, was fouled and sank both free throws at :16.

Milling finished with nine points and 12 rebounds.

Poway outscored the Pathfinders, 24-14, in the second half but it was not enough to overcome a miserable first half that the Titans behind 30-17 at halftime.

In the first half, the Titans could not handle Fremont’s full-court defensive pressure, and that contributed to Poway’s 19 turnovers on the night.

But the Titans’ troubles were exacerbated by their poor field-goal shooting. The Titans shot 13% from the field in the first half, making just three of 23 attempts.

“We were out of synch,” Wealch said. “We pushed it when we probably should have backed it up, and we backed it up when we probably should have pushed it.”