FREEWAY LEAGUE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Fullerton Wins the Game, but Buena Park Happy, Too

Wednesday, Buena Park clinched a tie for the Freeway League boys’ basketball title with a victory over La Habra.

Friday, Fullerton beat visiting Buena Park, 62-48, to satisfy itself that it was worthy of playoff participation.

That left both coaches pleased with the week’s results.

“We’re so happy about going to the playoffs, I don’t care where we play,” said Fullerton Coach Chris Burton, whose team had voted unanimously not to enter the new open Southern Section playoffs if it did not finish at least third in the league. “They could send us to Barstow.”

Buena Park Coach Ed Matillo said, “If we (had) lost by 100, I couldn’t be happier with these guys.”

Buena Park, which went 1-18 in Matillo’s first season two years ago, finished the regular season 16-8 and 8-2 in league. Fullerton ended up 12-12 and 5-5, tied with Troy for third.

Buena Park held a 10-6 lead in the first quarter, but Fullerton scored the next six points to take the lead for good.

Mark Von Pertz, a senior forward, had a game-high 12 rebounds, and Craig Olson ended with 19 points, nine in the fourth quarter. Ladd Brunner, who took time out to be crowned Pow-Wow King during halftime, scored 12 points.