Dolphins Surge to 13-Point Halftime Lead but Fall to Archrival Venice, 61-49
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
There are no easy games in the Western League and Monday night’s contest between Palisades and Venice provided the latest example. The boys basketball standings got even tighter after the Dolphins blew a 13-point halftime lead and ultimately fell 61-49 to their archrivals after controlling the tempo much of the way. Holding leads has been an issue for Palisades at times this season and Coach Donzell Hayes knows his team will need to fix the problem to make the City Open Division playoffs for the second consecutive year.
“Terrible… we were up 13 and gave it all back,” Hayes said. “We gave them anything they wanted in the second half.”
It was the first meeting of the teams since Palisades stunned the Gondos in overtime 55-52 on their home floor on a miraculous halfcourt heave by Avery Lee. Both teams lost in the first round of the eight-team Open Division tournament but the Gondos rebounded to reach the Division III state final, losing to Pleasant Valley of Chico 57-53 in Sacramento.
Junior Tyler Hunt, who was one of the top guards in the City last winter, was held to seven points in the first 16 minutes Monday but got hot in the second half and sparked his team’s comeback.
Lee, Zion Porter, Drew Kerkorian and Marcelo Mazzini led Palisades’ attack. The Dolphins were ahead 32-19 at intermission—an advantage that seemed safe on their home floor—but they were outscored 19-7 in the third quarter, their lead whittled down to one. Venice carried its momentum into the final frame and held Palisades to 10 points in the last eight minutes.
Lee finished with 18 points, Kerkorian nine, Porter seven, Aaron Eweh six and Prince Onyeneche and Flynn Messick each made a three-pointer.
Palisades won the Division I title in 2020—the program’s first section crown since 1969—and reached the semifinals in 2021 before earning its first Open Division berth last year.
Monday’s loss dropped the Dolphins to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in league. They travel to LACES on Friday to face a team that is difficult to beat on its home floor, where it upset Venice 51-43 in its league opener on Dec. 5.
Defending City champion Fairfax entered the week undefeated in league play and hosts Palisades next Wednesday night. The Dolphins host four of their final six league contests.
The City’s top eight teams make the Open bracket and the next 16 go to Division I. Crenshaw, Birmingham, Narbonne, Rancho Dominguez, Taft, Fairfax, Westchester and King Drew are the highest ranked so far.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.