Fremont pulls out 70-65 victory over Cleveland

Los Angeles Fremont Coach Sam Sullivan started pacing nervously in the waning seconds Wednesday night as his team kept missing free throws.

After four consecutive misses, Tony Freeland brought relief to Sullivan and the Pathfinders, making three free throws in the final 22 seconds that enabled fourth-seeded Fremont to pull out a 70-65 victory over Reseda Cleveland in a City Championship Division quarterfinal game.

There were opportunities for both teams to prevail in a game that featured nine ties.

Held to three points through three quarters, senior forward Laron Armstead of Fremont regrouped and scored 14 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes.

“Cleveland took him out of his game,” Sullivan said. “Finally, the senior woke up.”

Added Armstead: “The fourth quarter is the time for champions. It’s win or go home, and I had to step up.”

Armstead made a three-point play and connected on two three-pointers to help Fremont (21-6) open a 64-56 lead with 2:59 left. But Cleveland (20-8) kept hustling and fighting back, closing to within 67-65 with 42 seconds left on the sixth three-pointer of the game by sophomore Jason Johnson, who had a career-high 28 points.

Cleveland had the ball with 25 seconds left when Fremont’s Savion Udeh made the defensive play of the night, blocking a shot by Prince Obasi. Udeh came down with the ball and was fouled.

Udeh, however, missed two free throws, but Freeland came down with the offensive rebound and was fouled with 22 seconds left. He made both free throws and added another with nine seconds left. Freeland finished with 22 points.

Johnson, a 6-foot-1 guard, turned in a stunning performance for someone so young. He made four three-pointers in the third quarter, twice on back-to-back possessions.

“He’s our baby Paul Pierce,” Cleveland Coach Osiris Nalls said.

Both schools were active and intense on defense, showing a sense of urgency knowing that the winner would earn not only a trip to the semifinals but an automatic berth to the state Division I playoffs.

Fremont earned a spot against top-seeded Woodland Hills Taft in Friday’s 8 p.m. semifinals at the Galen Center. Taft defeated Dorsey, 99-59, and Sullivan knows the matchup won’t be easy.

“They’re the best team in the City hands down,” Sullivan said.

But Sullivan, who didn’t coach last season while Fremont was under sanctions for using six ineligible players in 2006, is thrilled with what his team has accomplished.

“We overachieved all year,” he said. “Nobody thought we’d win league, let alone get to the semifinals.”

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com