Pasadena Beats Paramount With 10 Late Free Throws

Pasadena High made 10 free throws in the final 51 seconds to defeat Paramount, 70-61, in a Southern Section Division I-A quarterfinal playoff game at Cerritos College on Friday night.

Donald Guyton scored 23 points--13 during the third quarter--and Wayne Allen scored 16 to lead Pasadena (23-6), which will play Santa Ana Mater Dei in the semifinals Tuesday at a site to be determined.

“We were just incredible at the line,” Pasadena Coach Bill Duwe said. “Wayne really stepped up tonight with some big rebounds and a big drive and bucket to put us within one when we were down, 57-54.”

Chris Boyd had given Paramount a 54-52 lead on an alley-oop, one-handed dunk. The Pirates (16-10) stretched their lead to 57-52 lead when Ralph Pickett made a three-point basket with 3:30 to play.

“They went on that run and I was thinking, ‘It’s over,’ ” Duwe said.

However, Pasadena responded to outscore Paramount, 18-4, down the stretch.

Behind Marcus Crawford’s defense, Pasadena took a 12-11 lead during the first quarter.

However, Crawford picked up his third foul with 3:36 to play in the second quarter.

Boyd kept Paramount in the game in the first half as he scored nine of the Pirates’ 11 first-quarter points.

But during the second half, Boyd was held in check by Allen’s defense.

“I think I overpowered (Boyd) a bit with my body in the second half,” Allen said. “He is really great, and the coach said to front him and put my hand and body on him.”