Frenz Pushes Estancia Past Bellflower

Clay Frenz made all eight free-throw attempts in the final 2 minutes 13 seconds of the game to help Estancia claim a 79-70 victory over Bellflower in the opening round of the Division III-AA boys’ basketball playoffs Friday night.

The visiting Bucs had cut the Estancia lead to three points before Frenz took charge at the free-throw line.

“He wants to be under pressure,” said Coach Tim Parsel, in his first year.

Frenz finished with 18 points and 11 assists to lead the Eagles (15-11).

Jim Faulkner, who scored 24 for Estancia, hit a three-pointer midway in first quarter to give the Eagles a 13-10 lead.

“Jim has been getting most of the coverage, but I told the team that it is because of all of them that he is doing well,” Parsel said.

Both teams were hot in the first half, each hitting 16 of 25 with Estancia enjoying a 38-34 lead.

Estancia, the Pacific Coast League runner-up, will have a week to prepare for its matchup against top-seeded Inglewood Morningside in the quarterfinals of the 16-team division at a site to be announced today.