Prep Basketball BOYS : Kennedy Squeaks Past San Fernando, 48-46, in Overtime

Two free throws by Kennedy High’s Greg Fontenette with four seconds left in overtime Friday gave the Golden Cougars a 48-46 victory and thwarted a spirited bid for an upset by San Fernando High.

San Fernando’s Maurice Walton tossed up a 40-foot desperation shot at the buzzer, but the ball rolled in and out of the hoop, much to the chagrin of the home crowd at San Fernando.

Kennedy took what appeared to be a commanding halftime lead, 32-16, behind the shooting of James Walton and Titus Randle. San Fernando closed the gap to 38-28 by the end of the third quarter by forcing numerous Kennedy turnovers.

The Tigers kept gnawing at the Golden Cougars’ lead and finally went ahead, 46-44, with a little more than a minute left in regulation.

Kennedy’s Andrew Como hit from six feet out with seven seconds on the clock, however, to push the game into overtime. Fontenette’s free throws were the only points in the extra period.

Walton led Kennedy with 12 points and Randle scored 10. John Auftin scored 11 points and Sean Declouet added 10 for San Fernando.

Kennedy improved its record to 5-1 in the Valley 4-A League and 10-6 overall. San Fernando fell to 1-5 in the league and 5-15 overall.

Cleveland 82, Taft 74

The City’s No. 2-ranked team got a scare in the Valley 4-A League game at Taft, but recovered to win its 13th straight.

Taft trailed by 17 points after three quarters, but cut the deficit to 76-71 with 1:39 left. Cleveland Coach Greg Herrick, who was hit with two technicals in the game, had to put his starters back in to hold off the Toreadors.

Cleveland is 17-1 overall and leads the league with a 6-0 record. The Cavaliers’ eight-point margin was its lowest in league play.

Taft is 5-10 and 2-4.

Cleveland got 28 points and 19 rebounds from forward Trevor Wilson, 14 points and 16 rebounds from center Andre Washington, 13 assists from Tyrone Mitchell and 10 points from Antoine Shofner.

Kevin Franklin scored 28 points for Taft and brother Keith scored 14. Darren Kolinsky also scored 14 points for the Toreadors.

El Camino Real 57, Monroe 38

Junior Rick Hergott and senior Anthony Hines each scored 15 points to lead the Conquistadors’ rout at El Camino Real.

In improving its Valley 4-A League record to 4-2, El Camino Real (10-5 overall) increased its 24-20 halftime by outscoring Monroe, 20-4, in the third quarter.

Monroe (0-5 in league play) got 17 points from Wendell Williams.

St. John Bosco 50, Alemany 49

Two free throws by Steve Balstad with three seconds remaining lifted St. John Bosco High over Alemany.

Balstad was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points. Fernando Lopez scored 16 points for Alemany, which fell to 4-3 in the Del Rey League and 15-6 overall.

Loyola 59, St. Francis 54

Guard Mark Wilson scored 20 points to lead the Cubs to the Del Rey League victory at Loyola.