After losing seven of their first eight De Anza Division contests, the Firebirds left the court on Feb. 3 with something to cheer about. After playing their "best first quarter of the season" and leading by as many as 21 points in the first half, they hunkered down to stave off a late Los Gatos charge for a 48-46 win.

The victory snapped a losing string, which had stretched to six games two nights before with a loss to Homestead. The win improved Fremont's record to 2-7 in the division and 8-15 overall.

The Firebirds used 53 percent shooting (8 of 15) and a tight man-to-man defense to build a 22-8, first-quarter lead at Los Gatos. Then they extended it to 29-8, when Los Gatos went nearly five minutes of the second period without a point.

"We really clicked together in the first half," explained junior Michael Bursky, a 5-foot-10 hustler who finished with game highs of 17 points, six steals and several dives to the floor. He also had six rebounds and two assists.

Leo Janisse, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior center and the Firebirds' only returning starter from last season's team that went 10-2 in the De Anza and 25-4 overall, scored 11 points, pulled down nine rebounds and played solid defense against the Wildcats' big and strong front line.

Speedy, 5-foot-10 junior guard Jeremy Allen, who did not play basketball last season, contributed 10 points. Half of them came in the game's first two minutes when Fremont jumped in front 9-0. Another junior guard, 5-foot-9 Benny Evien, delivered a pair of early three-pointers for six points. Six-foot-4 Sam Kesten did a little of everything, chipping in with three points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Shelton Swopes added a free throw.

"It was great that we got off to a good start," Fremont coach Miguel Castillo said. "It was our best first quarter, defensively and offensively, of the season."

Bursky paced Fremont's first-period run with nine points and three steals, then ruined Los Gatos' first possession of the second quarter with another steal and lay-in. The Firebirds managed just six points the rest of the half, all by Janisse, but Los Gatos tallied just seven in that span.

Fremont held Los Gatos to 3 of 13 shooting and forced four turnovers in the first period.

"Even though they made up some ground in the fourth quarter, we didn't cave in to the pressure," Castillo complimented. "We didn't make our free throws, but we did make a few defensive stops late in the fourth quarter."

The veteran coach was referring to Fremont's defensive play from 3:44 to :27, when six Wildcat possessions ended in three turnovers and three missed shots.

Bursky said the biggest play of the night may have been made by Castillo at a team meeting before the game. "It was a team bonding thing," Bursky explained. "He was just trying to get us to work together."

"This is a new group of kids--a good group that I'm pleased with," Castillo noted, "and they're just starting to understand that they need to trust one another."

Fremont closes its De Anza schedule against the top three teams, beginning with a home game against Gunn on Feb. 8. After a bye, the Firebirds play at first-place Palo Alto, before hosting Milpitas on Feb. 17.

Fremont girls roll

After suffering its first SCVAL-El Camino loss of the season, 48-40 to Mountain View on Jan. 27, Fremont bounced back to beat Saratoga and Lynbrook. The Firebirds and Mountain View both entered games of Feb. 7 as league co-leaders with records of 8-1.

Senior forward Marylin Avila poured in 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the 59-34 victory over Saratoga. Teammate Carol Hoang contributed 12 points, eight assists and six steals. Victoria Cunha scored 10.

In a 61-49 win at Lynbrook, Avila again was the Firebirds' top scorer with 20, sharing game honors with Viking Laura Crisler. Hoang (15) and Cunha (11) again reached double figures.

Wrestling finals set

Wrestlers from Fremont, Homestead and The King's Academy will compete in the SCVAL championship meet, Feb. 10-11 at Los Gatos. Junior varsity competition is set for Friday and varsity on Saturday.

The Firebirds, led by seniors Filip Novachkov, Greg Crane, Kurtis Ogasawara and Tommy Staats and junior Boris Novachkov, go in to the event ranked No. 2 in the Central Coast Section. Paul Howard and Matt Ott of Homestead and Stephen Thalin, Evan Winslow and freshman Matt Thalin of King's all figure to contend for qualifying berths into the CCS meet, Feb. 24-25. The top six varsity placers will advance from the SCVAL event.