CITY SECTION : BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A DIVISION

Fremont 67, Kennedy 58--When Fremont High basketball Coach Sam Sullivan goes in search of pigeons, his favorite hunting ground is the San Fernando Valley.

Two years ago, Sullivan’s fifth-place team ventured into the Valley and upset Cleveland, the City Section’s fourth-ranked team at the time. On Friday, Sullivan brought another fifth-place team into the Valley and upset Kennedy on the Golden Cougars’ home court.

Fremont (11-11) used a stifling 2-3 matchup zone defense and the shooting of guard Calvin Kyles to defeat Kennedy (13-7), ranked sixth in the Valley by The Times.

The scrambling Pathfinder defense shut down Kennedy’s Marcus Malone, limiting him to seven points, nine below his season average.

“We concentrated on his side,” Sullivan said. “I had a special defense all ready for Malone, but our zone worked so well I didn’t have to use it.”

Malone, who picked up two fouls in the first 2:15 of the game and fouled out with 53 seconds to play, didn’t think it was the Fremont defense so much as the officiating that spoiled his final home appearance.

“We had to play the refs and the other team. It prevented me from even going for a rebound because I was afraid I’d get a foul,” Malone said. “We were handicapped. The refs let them play but didn’t let us play.”

Kyles led all scorers with 30 points, including eight in the final quarter as Fremont came from three points down to pull away from Kennedy. The Golden Cougars led, 50-47, with 6:36 to play, but Fremont went on a 9-0 tear to take a 56-50 lead that proved insurmountable.

“Kyles is the most underrated guard in the City,” Sullivan said. “Nobody knows about him, but I do.”

Fremont center Brian Jones added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and forward Darrin Dafney scored 12 points, six in the fourth quarter.

With Malone hitting only three of 11 shots, center Leon Ware took over some of the offensive responsibilities, finishing with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Forward Clarence Williams added 11 points and 12 rebounds.