Unfortunately for Fremont one of their backboards was cracked Wednesday, causing the game to be played at Homestead. The Mustangs took advantage of the situation and pulled off a 57-55 upset for its third Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division win.

David Ostrow and Domingo Emiano both poured in 16 points apiece to lead the Mustangs. William Tsai added 10 and Steve Wey seven. Min Park chipped in with three, while Ronald Jackson and Alex Mrozack scored two each. Josh Cottrell's free throw rounded out the scoring.

Fremont junior Dan Bergeron, one of the leaders in a win over Los Gatos earlier in the week, scored 20 at Homestead. Freshman center Leo Janisse had 16 points and junior Kevin Julian 10 for the Firebirds, whose record dipped to 5-5 in league play.

Senior Lance DeWitt scored seven points and Chris Gokey and Kevin La added one each for the Firebirds.

Bergeron and DeWitt, both 6-foot-6, had big games at Los Gatos. Each player tallied 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, "but it was a total team effort," said Fremont coach Miguel Castillo, "especially in the fourth quarter."

The Firebirds, who had been beaten several times in the first half by Wildcats penetrating the baseline for easy baskets, made defensive adjustments at the intermission.

"In the second half, we really focused on stopping them on the baseline, and it really paid off for us," Castillo explained.

Fremont erased a five-point halftime deficit to pull even at 36 after three quarters. The Firebirds held Los Gatos to four points in the fourth quarter.

Before entering the Central Coast Section Division II tournament next week, Fremont will close out regular season play Friday night against Wilcox at home—if the backboard is repaired.

Mustangs in tight race

Homestead gained revenge against Palo Alto with an impressive 67-47 victory, handing Paly its second loss of division play. Homestead, Saratoga and Palo Alto enter the final week of play with two losses.

Becky Tratter scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to pace the win. Mandy Wald scored 16 and grabbed nine boards. Jenelle Kitasoe scored 12.

Two nights later, Homestead beat Lynbrook 56-37. Wald scored 20, Tratter 14 and Kitasoe 12 for the Mustangs, who improved to 8-2 in league play and 19-6 overall.

The two wins showed that Homestead had regrouped from a 50-44 loss at Saratoga. A strong second half was not enough to erase a 20-point halftime deficit against the Falcons. Tratter's 10 points and 12 rebounds paced the Mustangs. Junior Sandra Kiel scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.

Fremont tightened up the El Camino race by beating front-runner Mountain View 48-45 last Wednesday. However, the Firebirds slipped back two nights later, losing 47-41 at Cupertino.

At Mountain View, "we played a great game," said Fremont coach John Wells. "The post players really stepped up their game and we had balance from all five starters."

Post players Aneta Pariaszewski (15 points) and Erin Sturm (11) led the scoring. Shalainie Manuel scored 12, including two three-pointers, and Carol Hoang and Jessica Moore both added four. Victoria Cunha had two.

Wells cited the bench play of Jessica Svoboda, Alison Bushnell and Tiffany Cabana. "They came in and played some great defense," Wells said.

Fremont trailed Mountain View 24-20 at halftime, but chipped away and entered the fourth quarter losing by just one point, 33-32.

The Firebirds enter the final week of El Camino play with a 7-4 division record.