Fremont Jumps Ahead Early, Beats Hamilton

Fremont High Coach Sam Sullivan made sure everyone got some action in the Pathfinders’ 70-55 victory over Hamilton on Friday night. Ten got in and eight scored in the first quarter of the City 4-A first-round playoff game at Fremont.

The numerous substitutions, however, did little to disrupt the Pathfinders’ momentum. Fremont jumped to a 20-9 lead in the first six minutes en route to its 17th consecutive victory.

The Pathfinders have won by an average of 22.5 points during the streak, including four games by 41 points or more.

“That’s the way we like to play; I don’t know any other way,” Sullivan said. “It helps keep the players in tune to the game knowing they’re going to play. We like to have our players fresh to keep the defensive pressure up.”

Leon Watson had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Antonio Hines and Raymond Sims added 18 and 12 points apiece for Fremont, which will play Chatsworth in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

“The coach feels everyone needs to play, we’re used to it,” Watson said. “We have a big rotation but we have confidence in everybody.”

The Pathfinders looked to Watson down the stretch after Hamilton trimmed a 55-42 deficit to 60-54 with 1:38 left. Jones, though, made eight consecutive free throws for eight of Fremont’s final 10 points.