Pali Boys Hoops Are No Match for Fairfax

Playing in the same league with two of the best teams in the state has both advantages and disadvantages. Although he relishes every chance to knock off perennial powers Westchester and Fairfax, Palisades High boys varsity basketball coach James Paleno also knows that having to play each of them twice every year leaves little margin for error when it comes to making the City Section’s upper division playoffs. ‘I’ve always looked at it as a positive because those are programs you want to measure yourself against,’ Paleno said. ‘If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.’ After opening Western League play with victories over Hamilton, University and Venice, the Dolphins hosted Fairfax last Friday night with a chance to take sole possession of first place by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in school history. It didn’t happen. Fairfax, last season’s runner-up and the pre-season favorite to win the City title this year, pulled away in the second half for a convincing 99-68 victory. The Lions (14-2 overall, 4-0 in league), coming off a comeback win at Westchester two nights before, were not guilty of overlooking Palisades. Instead, they raced to a 12-3 lead in the first five minutes and led 24-15 after the first quarter. The Dolphins trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter but pulled to within 46-36 at halftime. Before the game, Paleno had stressed rebounding and foul shooting the keys to the game and Palisades did neither well enough to knock off the Lions, who won the state title two years ago. The Dolphins were outrebounded by more than a two to one ratio and made only 20 of 35 free throw attempts. ‘Free throws have cost us several games already,’ Paleno said. ‘And missing that many certainly doesn’t help your chances against a team as good as Fairfax. This was a big game. We weren’t just playing to stay close and put up a good fight. We wanted to win.’ Junior forward Paul Davis led the Dolphins (10-8, 3-1) with 17 points, senior wing Marshall Johnson had 14 and junior guard Ashton Roberts added 10. Pali hosted defending City and state champion Westchester yesterday and opens the second round of league play Friday night at Hamilton. JV The Dolphins’ junior varsity team was also playing for first place Friday night and seemed to have the game won with possession of the ball and a two-point lead in the final seconds. But Kendrick Thomas’ layup was blocked by Fairfax’s Mark Wilson, who grabbed the rebound, dribbled to halfcourt and launched a desperation three-pointer that rattled in at the buzzer. Coached by Mike Teller and Dave Gordon, Pali (12-2, 3-1) posted four blowout victories to win the Beverly Hills Tournament, then won its first three league games. The roster includes Che Borja, Albert Yu, Fred Martin, Jeff Fujimoto, Jeff Dolliole, Josh Gilmore, George Hudak, Michael Creer, Chris Cooks, Josh Whalen, Alan Gordon and Thomas.