Led by seniors Chris Gokey, Lance Turner and Dan Bergeron, Fremont ran its record to 5-0 by dumping Piedmont Hills 74-61 in the championship game of the Westmont Tournament on Dec. 3.

The next night, senior Mark McLaughlin and junior William Tsai helped Homestead polish off Santa Clara 72-47 in the finals of the Cupertino Shootout.

Fremont took a 24-point lead into the fourth quarter of the Westmont tourney finale, before winning by 13. Turner (six three-pointers) and Gokey (four) were dialed in from long distance. Turner finished with 21 points and Gokey had 16.

Bergeron pumped in 17 points, from inside and outside, in a 90-44 semi-final triumph over Prospect. Gokey drilled four three-pointers while scoring a team-high 24 points.

The Firebirds bolted to a 27-6 lead in the first quarter and sailed to victory. They led 47-19 at halftime, then poured in 34 more points in the third quarter.

Fremont also was dominant in the tourney opener, burying Willow Glen 69-24. Sophomore center Leo Janisse was the top scorer in that one with 13. Bergeron and Turner both scored 11.

The Firebirds' unbeaten record will be tested this week at the Independence-Fukushima Tournament, Dec. 8­10, at Evergreen Valley High.

McLaughlin, whose junior season ended prematurely with ankle surgery, has not lost his shooting touch. He already has scored more than 20 points on three occasions for the Mustangs, who take a 4-0 record into the Wilcox Invitational, Dec. 9­11.

McLaughlin and Homestead broke open the Shootout finale in the second half, after holding just a three-point lead at halftime. The Mustangs outscored Santa Clara 36-14 during the last two quarters. Mclaughlin finished with 26 points, 11 from the foul line.

Tsai, whose game-high 18 points were critical in Homestead's 54-52 semi-final win over host Cupertino, canned 15 against Santa Clara. Senior Min Park scored 12 for the Mustangs, including two three-pointers and four free throws.

Homestead whipped Silver Creek 60-42 in the first round behind McLaughlin's 26 points and junior David Ostrow's 14. The semi-final game against Cupertino proved to be quite a challenge.

The Pioneers led 32-27 at halftime, but Homestead outscored the hosts 14-5 in the third quarter to gain the lead. In addition to Tsai's 18-point effort, Homestead used 11 points from McLaughlin.

McLaughlin had scored 28 points in Homestead's season opener, a 69-39 win at Mt. Pleasant. Dedrick scored 12 points and William Tsai 11.

TKA wins two of three

Four players scored in double figures for The King's Academy Dec. 3, helping the Knights open their season with the consolation title at the James Lick Invitational. Tim Biederman scored 14 points, J.T. Martin 12, Paul Marcoux 11 and Jacob Monroe 10 in the 71-49 triumph over Andrew Hill of San Jose.

Jason Linn, a 6-foot-2 senior, added seven points, and he led the team in rebounds (nine) and assists (six). Marcoux, a 6-foot-1 senior, made five steals and passed out four assists.

With the Knights in command early, leading 19-12 after one quarter and 35-17 at halftime, first-year coach Mark Taylor emptied his bench and 13 players broke into the scoring column. Jordan McDonald nailed a three-point goal, and Steven Lim, Derek Hum, Jon McBirney, Corbett Clarke, Zach Rouleau, Sam Sussman and Colin Foshay had two points each.

TKA opened the tourney with a 68-53 win over Mt. Pleasant of San Jose, but lost its semi-final game 73-46 to Campolindo of Moraga.

Marcoux topped all scorers in the first game with 22 points, including 15 on three-pointers. Jason Linn scored 12 and pulled down nine rebounds. Biederman added 11points and seven boards. Monroe was the top rebounder with 10, Martin passed out four assists.

Marcoux (11) and Biederman (10) paced the Knights' scoring against Campolindo, which raced to a 23-11 lead in the first quarter and gradually pulled away.

Fremont girls third

Host Fremont won two of three games to claim third place in the Lady Firebird Tournament. Marissa Cabana's 12 points led the Firebirds past Saratoga 44-31 in the third-place game. Sophomore point guard Carol Hoang, who was picked to the all-tournament team, contributed nine points, seven assists and six steals. Junior Alison Bushnell paced the Firebirds in rebounding with 12 boards.

Cabana's 11 points and Marylin Avila's 11 rebounds were the bright spots for Fremont in a 59-34 semi-final loss to Mercy of San Francisco.

The Firebirds opened the tourney with a 36-33 triumph over Gunn. Hoang's eight points, five assists and five steals led the way. Cabana and Victoria Cunha both scored seven points and Ally Lang added six.

Homestead center Shelley Baxter and Cupertino guard Lisa William, both seniors, also earned all-tourney honors, but their teams were ousted early from the eight-team, double-elimination event.

After a 55-35 loss to Mercy in the first round, Homestead dropped a tough 47-41 contest to Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division rival Gunn. The Mustangs, unable to build upon a six-point halftime lead, entered the fourth quarter ahead just 27-25. Then Gunn racked up 22 points in the final period to earn the win.

Sophomores Kate Mower (12 points) and Cheryl Ichikawa (nine) paced Homestead's offense against Gunn. Baxter, who provided strong rebounding and interior defense, scored six points. Juniors Claudia Lee and Julie Nakamoto and sophomore Elan Kim all scored four points and sophomore Kelly Verstegen added two.

At the King's Academy Christmas Invitational Dec. 2­4, the host Knights won their tourney opener 56-42 over International Studies Academy of San Francisco, but finished fourth.

The Knights fell 54-38 to Woodside in the semi-finals, despite 15 points from junior guard Lisa Walker, and they lost the third-place game, 51-42 to Carlmont of Belmont. Senior forward Melissa Junge and junior guard Taylor Scott both scored 14 against Carlmont.