Sylmar Does Its Homework Again

Because Sylmar High has lost only one home basketball game in the last three seasons, one thing is abundantly clear:

The Spartans need to schedule more home games.

Playing at home for the first time this season and the only time in December, Sylmar led by 22 points in the second half. The Spartans survived Fremont’s fourth-quarter rally and claimed an 80-70 victory Wednesday night in a nonleague game at Sylmar.

Sylmar (2-4) last lost on its home floor to Canoga Park three seasons ago after leading by 20 points. The culprit? Turnovers.

Fast forward three years.

Sylmar led Fremont, 62-42, after three quarters. But Fremont scratched its way back into the game and trailed by six points with 50 seconds left by forcing nine turnovers and making five three-point baskets in the fourth quarter.

“We started to panic,” said Jason Adams, Sylmar reserve guard who had nine points and five assists.

“We haven’t lost at home in three years, so it was a lot of pressure.”

But Adams was up to the task, sinking two free throws and converting a layup in the final 47 seconds.

Sylmar, which is heading to Las Vegas for a tournament on Friday, was able to overcome 29 turnovers with solid shooting and rebounding.

The Spartans made 52% of their shots in the first half, 63% in the second half. They outrebounded Fremont, 34-25.

Fremont (6-3) used an 18-8 run to start the fourth quarter and cut the Spartans’ lead to 70-60 on a three-pointer by Kenton Paulino, who scored 20 points.

John Valdez, a junior shooting guard who finished with 19 points, extended the Spartans’ lead, 74-60, with two free throws and a layup after a steal.

But Sylmar scored only two points in the next 2:25, allowing Fremont a 10-2 run to get to within 76-70 with 50 seconds left.

“We knew we still had control of the game, but it was starting to slip away,” said Charles White, an assistant coach for Sylmar.

Fremont missed two three-point shots and Adams was able to seal the victory with a layup in the final seconds.

Fremont, which has two victories over Canoga Park, went without a basket for the first five minutes of the second quarter, allowing Sylmar a 15-0 run for a 31-13 lead.

The Pathfinders made only three of 19 shots (16%) in the second quarter and missed all nine three-point shots, allowing Sylmar a 40-20 halftime lead.

Branden Robinson had 14 points for Sylmar, Earnest Williams added 11 and Jeff Morse had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Mark Bradford of Fremont, who sat out most of the first half because of foul trouble, finished with 16 points, including 14 in the second half.