Dolphins Make Opening Statement

Pali High Girls Basketball Cruises Past El Camino Real in First Round of Playoffs

Asked what he liked most about last Friday night’s playoff opener, Palisades High girls basketball head coach Torino Johnson answered: “Everything.”

Sure, he was thrilled with the final score – a 64-40 blowout of El Camino Real that extended the Dolphins’ winning streak to 18 games – but what impressed him even more was his team’s intensity for the full 32 minutes.

“I couldn’t sing their praises any louder,” Johnson said of his players. “They had good preparation, attention to detail and their execution was great. I enjoyed every moment.”

The Western League champion Dolphins (21-10) are seeded No. 2 out of eight teams in the City Section’s inaugural Open Division tournament and jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter against seventh-seeded  El Camino Real (18-9), the West Valley League runner-up.

Palisades opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run and took a 48-20 lead into halftime thanks to  Kayla Merill-Gillett’s three-pointer at the buzzer.

“That’s the most we’ve been down at the half all season,” Conquistadores junior Sasha Samuels said. “Our coach told us we had to start rebounding and getting back on defense.”

It only got worse from there for the visitors, who were held to 14 points in the second and third quarters combined. The Dolphins  entered the fourth quarter up 62-28 and Johnson gave everyone playing time.

Merrill-Gillett finished with 26 points, five steals and three assists and backcourt mate Chelsey Gipson added 16 points, five rebounds and five steals.

Bianca King continued her  stellar play in the post, scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists. Also contributing to the winning effort with four points, four rebounds and two assists was freshman Sammy Spanier, who was mourning her grandmother’s death.

“Seeing Sammy out there giving it her all inspired everyone else,” Johnson said. “It shows the type of character and commitment our players have to this program. We’re proud of Sammy and we’re all here for her.”

Rita Herbstman and Chaniya Pickett rounded out the scoring for the Dolphins, who will try to defeat Fairfax for the fourth time this season when the teams meet in the semifinals Saturday at  2 p.m. at Roybal Learning Center.

“We’re just doing our thing,” Johnson said. “No matter who the next opponent is I’m only focused on my team.”

The Dolphins beat Fairfax in the finals of its tournament and twice in Western League play, but needed Merrill-Gillett’s three-pointer with three seconds left to escape with a 70-69 victory in their last encounter.

Palisades hasn’t tasted defeat since a 62-46 intersectional loss to La Jolla Bishop’s on Jan. 3. The Open Division final is March 7 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.