BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Fremont Gets Healthy and Gets the Win, 78-43

Florastine Hillis knows what it’s like when the Fremont High girls’ basketball team is not at full strength.

The junior forward, however, got a glimpse of what the Pathfinders could do with their lineup intact in their 78-43 Southeastern Conference victory over Bell on Wednesday at Fremont.

Fremont (4-8), which won its second in a row, dropped its first three games after Aisha Savage injured a knee in the first game. But the senior guard has returned and Fremont has also been bolstered by the addition of sophomore center Shaterry Danley, who recently became eligible.

“Everybody was frustrated,” Hillis said. “I was mad at myself and mad at the team. I tried to take it out on the court but I couldn’t. Now I look back at those early games, I don’t count them. I think we are a championship team if we put our heads together.”

On Wednesday, Savage, Danley and Hillis combined for 64 points. Savage had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Danley had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Savage and Danley also had five steals each while Savage contributed 16 points and four steals.

“I’m still a little cautious and scared about getting hit in the knee,” Savage said. “It was depressing when I couldn’t play. You want to help the team but you can’t. We are still learning each other’s moves and we’re getting along better as a team.”

It was at the free-throw line, though, where Fremont pulled away from Bell (3-6).

The Pathfinders, beneficiaries of 29 Bell fouls, made 31 of 45 free throws. Fremont scored 11 of its 17 second-quarter points off foul shots.

Bell held a 14-13 lead before Fremont, which had 19 steals, scored 12 of its next 16 points on free throws to open a 29-18 lead with a minute before halftime.

“Our game is quickness and non-stop defense,” Hillis said. “Defense is the key. When we play defense, the offense will come to us. We’ve lost a few, games but from this point on, we’re moving up.”

Records: Bell 3-6; Fremont 4-8