Canoga Park Loses Handle, 70-65

Inexperienced ball handlers cost Canoga Park High a season-opening victory Tuesday when the Hunters squandered a two-point lead on three turnovers in the final minute and lost to Fremont, 70-65, in a nonleague boys basketball game at Cangoa Park.

The game featured 20 lead changes and 10 ties.

After Canoga Park took a 65-62 lead on Sterling Stegall’s layup with 1:04 remaining, three Hunters turned over the ball on three consecutive possessions to fuel Fremont’s comeback.

“I didn’t really know how new of a team I had until today,” said Canoga Park Coach Ralph Turner, who starts only one senior.

After a free throw by Willie Dunn of Fremont, the Pathfinders’ half-court trap forced Cecil Brown to turn the ball over.

Fremont (1-0) passed the ball around Canoga Park’s 2-3 zone until Darrell Sanford buried a three-pointer from the left wing for a 66-65 lead with 14 seconds left.

Eight seconds later, Sanford stole the ball from Stegall.

Fremont made all four of its free throws in the final five seconds.

Jammie Harris, who scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Canoga Park, scored 10 of the Hunters’ 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Brown had 12 points for Canoga Park and Donte Witherspoon added 11.

Fremont led, 40-33, midway through the third quarter. Canoga Park reclaimed the lead, 43-42, with a 10-2 run.