Fray Gets 33 Points to Propel Santa Ana in Men’s Playoffs

Santa Ana lost its starting point guard to fouls and most of a 23-point lead but made enough free throws in the end to beat visiting MiraCosta, 93-85, in the second round of the Southern California men’s basketball playoffs.

MiraCosta got within three with one minute 12 seconds left in the game and had a chance to tie after Santa Ana’s Zac Fray was called for charging with 1:06 to play.

But MiraCosta’s James Gould missed a three-pointer and Santa Ana’s Mark Wulfemeyer got the rebound and was fouled with 36 seconds left.

Wulfemeyer, a sophomore guard, made both free throws and two more with 17 seconds left. Sophomore forward Greg Gray added a layup in the closing seconds as the Dons won their sixth in a row.

But for much of the contest it didn’t look like it would be close.

Fray drove past MiraCosta’s 7-foot-1 center Dave Korfman for an easy layup to start the game and the quicker Dons kept on going. Korfman was soon out of the game and finished with two points.

Santa Ana (28-5) was up, 43-27, at the half and the advantage grew to 62-39 with about 13 minutes left after consecutive baskets by freshman forward Joe Nichols.

But MiraCosta, which had gone to a smaller lineup and was rotating 12 players, started to creep closer.

The Spartans (17-14) also started to foul more in an effort to slow the Dons.

But sophomore point guard Brian Chambers of Santa Ana got his fifth foul with 3:14 left and his team ahead by 11.

Freshman Herbert Gracia, a part-time starter this season, took over the offense but was already playing with four fouls.

“Had we lost Herbert,” Santa Ana Coach Ray Rodriguez said, “that would have been it.”

Fray had a career-high 33 and Wulfemeyer, who had a career-high 36 in the first round of the playoffs, added 25.

Both were also effective at the free-throw line.

Fray made his first 12 free throws and finished 15 of 18. Wulfemeyer made 10 of 11 and the Dons were 28 of 38 as a team.

The victory moved the Dons into Saturday’s third round against visiting Los Angeles Valley (25-8) with a berth in the state tournament on the line.

If Santa Ana wins, it will be the first time since 1991 that the Dons have reached the state tournament.