BOYS’ BASKETBALL / CITY 3-A DIVISION : Wattree Gives Lift to Fremont, 77-61

Fremont High center Eric Wattree took himself out of the starting lineup three weeks ago because he felt he would be more useful in a reserve role.

Wattree, a 6-foot-6 senior, came off the bench Friday night and scored 12 points to help lead Fremont to a 77-61 victory over South Gate in the City 3-A Division championship at the Sports Arena.

Friday’s victory assures Fremont (30-3) a berth in next week’s Southern regional of the State tournament.

“I definitely feel like I had a big game,” said Wattree, a transfer from West Covina High who will attend Wyoming in the fall. “I like to come in and give help when it’s needed.”

Wattree scored eight points in the second quarter, during which Fremont trailed much of the time. The teams were tied, 31-31, at halftime.

In the second half, Wattree gave the Pathfinders the muscle they needed inside. He left the game midway through the fourth quarter after being called for a technical foul for an altercation with South Gate guard Miguel Villegas.

“Eric is a physical player,” said Sam Sullivan, Fremont’s coach. “We needed to establish an inside game, and he did that for us.”

The title was the second in a row for Fremont and third in the past four years. The school has won nine City championships since 1959. The title is also likely to be Fremont’s last in 3-A for several years. The Pathfinders will move up to 4-A next season.

South Gate (20-8) was a surprise finalist. The Rams had lost two Southeastern Conference games to Fremont earlier in the season.

South Gate started four juniors who held their own for a half Friday night. But their inexperience showed in the second half when they began committing turnovers and making costly fouls.

Fremont outscored the Rams, 28-14, in the pivotal third quarter to take a 59-45 lead.

As has been the case throughout the playoffs, the Pathfinders had balanced scoring. Guards Todd Whitehead and Ricky Brown each scored 13 points, guard David Fizdale added 12 and forward Tyrone Holliness had 11.

South Gate forward Eric Wright, a junior who scored 29 points in the semifinals, was held to six points and fouled out in the fourth quarter. Forward Sai Tuialii led all scorers with 23 points.