Photo by Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The Palisades Charter High School girls basketball team made a successful run in the Tarkanian Classic, which took place December 18 to 21 in Las Vegas.
The Dolphins went 3-1, winning their first three games to advance to the finals of the Sapphire (middle) Division before falling to LA City Section rival Birmingham 68-37, despite eight points and five assists by sophomore guard Elly Tierney.
Coach Adam Levine’s squad opened the tournament with a 44-38 victory over Nevada Foothill. Aniah Bradley scored eight points and pulled down 14 rebounds, while Ayla Teegardin added 11 points and six steals for the Dolphins.
The next day, Palisades held off Colorado Vista Peak, 57-55. Alyssa Ramirez scored 14 points, Teegardin had 11 and Jennika Essapour added 10 as the Dolphins got a defensive stop in the final seconds to clinch it.
In the semifinals, Palisades downed Atwater, 68-57. Freshman Riley Oku led the charge with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Ramirez scored 15 points, and Essapour and Tierney added 14 apiece.
The Dolphins (10-5) are back in action January 4 at Santa Monica (tip-off at 6:30 p.m.), then travel to South Pasadena for another intersectional contest January 5 before resuming Western League play January 10 at LACES.
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