KATELLA KLASSIC : Carlson’s 34 Points Paces Katella Win

Forward Brian Carlson scored 34 points, including two free throws with 12 seconds left, to give Katella a 75-72 victory over Long Beach Millikan in a championship semifinal game of the Katella Klassic.

Katella (10-2) will face Seattle Shorecrest (4-2) in the final at 8 tonight. Shorecrest upset Western, 51-50, in overtime.

Carlson, a 6-foot-6 senior, scored 15 first-half points to lead the Knights to a 33-26 halftime advantage. Katella went on an 11-3 run in the last 4 minutes 34 seconds of the second quarter to build a seven-point halftime edge.

Millikan (7-6) stormed back in the third quarter, scoring 27 points, taking a 53-52 lead into the final quarter. Jeff Haller scored 11 points in the quarter for the Rams, hitting all five of his shots from the floor.

Katella opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 spurt to take a 60-55 lead with 5:36 remaining and never lost the lead. Millikan did close to 73-72 with 14 seconds left on a three-point basket by Willis Pickens. But Carlson added two free throws with 12 seconds left for a three-point cushion.

Millikan’s Nick Holt had a three-point attempt fall short at the buzzer.

In the other semifinal:

Shorecrest (Wash.) 51, Western 50 (OT)-- Travis Greer hit a free throw with 36 seconds left in overtime to give Shorecrest a 51-50 victory over Western.

Western (9-2) never got off a final shot. Western’s Frank Floyd lost control of the ball with five seconds remaining and Shorecrest ran out the clock.

Floyd led all scorers with 25 points.