Girls Hoops Edged by Venice

It was anyone’s game late in the fourth quarter Monday at the Palisades High gym, where the Dolphins found themselves locked in a desperate struggle against archrival Venice in their Western League opener. Palisades trimmed an eight-point deficit to two twice but could get no closer and the Gondos hung on for a 46-42 victory.

Venice led 15-14 after the first quarter, Palisades led 24-23 at halftime. The Gondos outscored the Dolphins 17-8 in the third quarter and appeared poised to blow the game open, but Palisades didn’t go away.   

Jane Nwaba scored 16 points, Ivy Scott added 10, Alexis Pettis had eight, Sammie Arnold had five and Hayley Amador hit a three-pointer for the Dolphins (7-6 overall, 0-1 in league), who started a pair of sophomores and three freshmen. Palisades committed 25 turnovers.

Palisades shared the league title with Fairfax last season, then lost to the Lions in overtime in the City Section Open Division final. Nwaba and Brooke Messaye are the only returners on the roster.

The Dolphins traveled to Crossroads for an intersectional game Wednesday and resume league play at 4:30 p.m. Friday at LACES.