STATE PREP BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : County Teams Have a Perfect Day : Last Obstacle Is Overcome by Estancia

OAKLAND —  The Estancia High School boys’ basketball team finished a long and difficult journey to a State championship by defeating Fremont Washington, 82-72, in the Division III title game Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Estancia, which lost the Southern Section title two weeks ago, became an unlikely winner by defeating three section champions--San Diego Ramona, Servite and Pomona--in regional play and then claimed its first State title with a big first quarter.

Estancia (29-5) made 10 of 17 shot attempts in the first quarter to take a 26-12 lead. After trailing, 3-0, Estancia scored 17 consecutive points--including three three-point shots--to go up, 20-3.

Guard Paul McDaniels made two three-pointers in a two-minute stretch during which Estancia scored nine points. Estancia went inside to forward Matt Fuerbringer and outside to McDaniels and Mike Haas to gain the early lead.

Fremont Washington (24-10), which had gone through its 100-year history without an appearance in the State championship game, was hopelessly out of contention in only five minutes. Washington managed to get within six points on three occasions in the second half, but Haas responded by scoring 20 of his game-high 27 points in the second half.

Haas, who has been suspended twice in two years by Coach Tim O’Brien, again was the center of controversy Saturday when he was punched by a Washington student as he walked off the arena floor.

“Mike Haas has been in the doghouse, but today he got us in the penthouse,” O’Brien said. “This win fulfilled our season. I haven’t slept or eaten well since we lost the CIF (Southern Section) title to Pomona two weeks ago.

“Losing to Pomona was a big letdown, but we were lucky to get a reprieve. The last two weeks, we’ve had the toughest practices I can ever remember. Today, a different guy stepped up to carry us at different points in the game.”

Estancia had difficulty sustaining its level of play in the second half as Washington slowly whittled away a 15-point halftime deficit behind the three-point shooting of reserve guard Scott Hess and the play of point guard Jim Stevenson.

The closest Washington could get was 63-58 with 4:21 remaining in the fourth quarter when guard Jermaine White made a free throw, but Haas hit six free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Estancia made 12 of 16 free throws in the final quarter. Washington entered the game without a starter averaging in double figures, but forward Chuck Legan had 16 points, and Stevenson added 12 points and 11 assists.

Afterward, O’Brien said it was unrealistic to expect his team to sustain the level of play it had reached in the first half.

“We had a great half, and you know it’s got to come down a little,” he said. “Washington was a solid team and somehow they just hung around. They made a strong run at us, but Haas saved us in the end.”

Fremont Washington Coach Guin Boggs said Estancia’s 41-29 rebounding advantage and fast start were the differences in the game.