The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Fremont girls nail their first basketball win

By Dick Sparrer

The drought is over for Fremont's girls basketball team. After eight games of heartache, teeth grinding and near victories in their new division, the Firebirds finally won their first Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division game.

Seniors Carol Hoang and Alison Bushnell combined for 36 points in their home gym, as Fremont defeated Milpitas 59-48 on Feb. 2. The Firebirds, who led 16-12 after the first quarter and added to their lead in each period, enjoyed a 20-6 advantage at the free-throw line.

Amy Chwa, Hannah Wu and Cathy Nguyen each scored six points and Kristal Sana added five, in support of Hoang's team high 19 and Bushnell's 17.

Hoang, Chwa and Sana each scored 12 and Bushnell 11 two nights earlier in a tough 57-51 loss to second-place Gunn (6-3, 15-8). Fremont led at halftime, 28-23, but the visiting Titans rallied in the second half.

The Firebirds, now 7-14 overall, will try to make it two in a row, when they play at Mountain View on Feb. 9.

Meanwhile, in the El Camino Division, co-leader Homestead (7-2, 12-10 overall) hopes it started another win streak with its 58-38 romp over Santa Clara.

After going 6-0 in the first half of El Camino play, the Mustangs fell out of first place with losses to Saratoga and Los Altos, but seniors Elan Kim (22 points) and Kate Mower (19) helped them get back in the win column against Santa Clara.

Lynbrook's 39-27 win over Saratoga allowed Homestead to climb back into a share of first place with the Falcons. Lynbrook improved to 6-2, just ahead of Los Altos (6-3).

Boys basketball

Homestead split a pair of El Camino games and dropped a bit further behind division leader Monta Vista (7-1, 14-9 overall). After the Mustangs (6-3, 13-9) stumbled against Los Altos, 54-36, they used a huge third quarter to defeat Santa Clara, 53-36.

Down 21-20, Homestead broke loose for 25 points in the third quarter and allowed just five. Seniors Ryan Dedrick (17 points), Tim Vanderet (15) and Mickey Lai (10) were Homestead's scoring leaders.

Meanwhile, Fremont dropped two home games in the De Anza Division. Senior Michael Bursky scored 12 for Fremont, but the Firebirds fell 60-34 to Gunn. Three nights later, Jeremy Allen had a team-high 14 in a 49-37 loss to Milpitas.