Smith Helps Fairfax Hold Off Washington

Craig Smith scored 25 points and Evan Burns added 19 as second-seeded Fairfax defeated Washington, 69-64, in a City Section boys’ basketball playoff quarterfinal Wednesday night at Fairfax.

The victory earned Fairfax a semifinal showdown with third-seeded Fremont, a 92-62 Wednesday night over Gardena.

“[Fremont] is quick and they bring a lot of pressure, which is something we saw when we played Westchester,” Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said.

“We just have take care of our part and come out and play our game.”

Smith, a senior forward who has signed with Boston College, and Burns, one of the top junior forwards in the nation, helped the Lions hold off a Washington team that got 33 points from UCLA-bound forward Andre Patterson.

Jasha Bluntt added 13 points for Fairfax, which finished second in the Western League to top-seeded and defending champion Westchester.

Fairfax led, 39-37, at halftime and 55-50 after three quarters. The Lions led by as many as 10 points in the second half.