CITY SECTION ROUNDUP: CRUZ CONTROLS IT : DEFENSIVE WEAPON LEADS SYLMAR.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News

Ramiro Cruz didn't score, but he sure made his point on defense.

The Sylmar High ``designated defender'' put a clamp on hot-shooting Chris Ferguson, and that was was the difference in the Spartans' 59-53 City Section 3-A semifinal victory over University on Friday night at Cal State L.A.

Ferguson scored 22 points - including six 3-pointers - in 19 minutes before Cruz was inserted as a stopper.

``Ramiro turned the whole game around,'' Sylmar coach Bort Escoto said. ``When I put him in I told him, `You have No. 15.' He said, `He's not scoring again.' ''

Cruz made good on his promise, denying Ferguson the ball, then draping him when the 6-foot guard managed an opportunity.

``I've been doing that all season,'' Cruz said. ``My job was to stop the guy. That's all.''

Teammate Jeremiah Turner said Sylmar (18-9) was a little ragged but Cruz was the difference.

``We had to put someone on (Ferguson), and Cruz did a good job on defense,'' Turner said. ``If we didn't, that guy might still be hitting 3's. It was good to see reporters talking to Cruz after the game.''

Sylmar will meet Birmingham in for section championship here Saturday.

George Wrightster scored 16 to pace Sylmar, followed by Turner (14) and T.K. Reed (nine).

Wrightster put Sylmar ahead to stay with a driving lay-up midway through the fourth quarter.

Sylmar converted six free throws in the last 78 seconds.

Both teams had difficulty finding a rhythm in the early going, especially University (11-15), which trailed 9-4 after the first quarter.

Sylmar upped its first-half advantage to 20-10, motivated by Wrightster's 10 points.

Ferguson's buzzer-beating 3-pointer pulled University within five at the break.

Birmingham 76, San Pedro 65: Stanley Fletcher scored 29 points - including five 3-pointers - to boost the Braves (18-9) to their first berth in a City championship game since 1995.

When teammate Emmanuel Evans was sidelined with four fouls early in the third quarter, Fletcher went on a rampage with 16 points in the stanza.

``I knew Manny was one of our offensive weapons,'' Fletcher said, ``so I had to pick up the slack.''

Evans, scoring on power moves to the basket as well as outside jumpers, still managed 25 points in 24 minutes.

The Braves broke the game open with a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that gave them a 12-point cushion.

Senior Allen Kordich kept San Pedro in the game with 26 points, 17 in the second half. He converted five 3-pointers. But without a big presence down low, the Pirates were worn down when they needed a late rally.

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Photo

Photo: Sylmar's Ervin Gonzales (left) and Dallas Townsend battle University's Chris Ferguson for rebound.

John McCoy/Daily News