Freeway League Roundup : Sunny Hills Throws In the Tissue, Then Cleans Up Fullerton, 68-65

Fullerton High School’s seven-game winning streak over rival Sunny Hills went down the tubes Friday, swamped early in a sea of tissue and eventually buried by the moves of Lancer forward Brian McCloskey and Chris Drakos.

Paced by McCloskey’s 24 points and Drakos’ 17, Sunny Hills defeated Fullerton, 68-65, in Freeway League action at Sunny Hills (14-1, 4-0). The Lancers’ only loss was to Long Beach Millikan in the third game of the season.

For three seasons, Fullerton (8-7, 2-2) has dominated the Sunny Hills-Fullerton rivalry. To emphasize the game’s importance, the Sunny Hills students got cute after their team’s first point--a free throw by Drakos--by tossing numerous rolls of toilet paper onto the court, covering the floor and interrupting play for several minutes.

Though the interruption earned Sunny Hills a technical, and Fullerton was able to tie the score at 1-1, the prank seemed to have the desired effect. Sunny Hills outscored the Indians, 21-8, in the first quarter.

Eight of the Lancers’ first quarter points came on free throws. Fullerton got into foul trouble early, with nine fouls in the first period. The Indians’ 6-foot 8-inch center, Alan Lewis, picked up three fouls and sat out the second quarter.

But the loss of Lewis only made the Indians play better. In the second quarter, Fullerton outscored the Lancers, 28-14, and took a 36-35 halftime lead.

“With Lewis out we relaxed,” Sunny Hills Coach Steve White said. “It helped the momentum switch.

The momentum-switch was also helped by two goal tending calls against McCloskey in the second.

Junior forward Pete Bach, who led Fullerton with 24 points, scored 12 points in the second quarter.

The teams stayed even in the third quarter, but in the fourth the Indians turned the ball over and the Lancers capitalized, hitting three straight baskets to regain the lead. Sunny Hills also shut down Fullerton’s outside shot. Outside-shooter Greg Wilbur, who finished with 19 points, was held to just two in the final period.

McCloskey had 20 rebounds and Drakos finished with 12. The Lancers will meet Troy Wednesday in a match that will determine first place.

Buena Park 67, Sonora 66--Guard Mike Toscano made two free throws with three seconds remaining to complete a comeback for the Coyotes. Buena Park (9-5, 2-2) trailed by 14 going into the last quarter, but rallied with forward Kevin Graddy scoring 12 points in the last eight minutes.

Sonora (5-10, 0-4) made only 2 of 8 free throws in the last quarter and has lost its four league games by an average of 4.2 points per game. Sonora center Scott St. Clair led all scorers with 29 points.

Troy 58, La Habra 45--The Warriors, with only one varsity player returning, continue to be the league’s surprise team and remained in a first-place tie. Pat O’Curran led the Warriors (12-4, 4-0) with 14 points.

La Habra (5-9, 0-4), playing only its second home game since Dec. 18, was led by Nelson Bergamo with 10 points.