Pali High Hoops Spots Up at Price

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

It was an uphill climb all the way, but after battling hard for four quarters the Palisades High boys basketball team had a chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat last Friday morning at Price High in Los Angeles.

Trailing by one point with six seconds remaining, the Dolphins rebounded a missed free throw and got the ball in the hands of junior point guard Nick Kerkorian, who dribbled across halfcourt, was met by three defenders,  and dished to sophomore guard Anthony Spencer, who launched a desperation three-pointer from five feet beyond the arc. It hit the top of the backboard and King/Drew held on for a 55-54 win in the final round of the Spot Up Classic.

Palisades finished 1-3 in the tournament and dropped to 3-9 overall. The Dolphins lost their first two games to Narbonne and Price, then rebounded to beat South Gate by 17 points.

Kerkorian hit a floater in the lane to pull the Dolphins within 53-52 with 1:15 left against King/Drew and his fadeaway jumper with 20 seconds left cut the Golden Eagles’ lead to 55-54.

“On the final possession I wanted to push but they collapsed on me and I couldn’t find anyone open until it was too late,” said Kerkorian, who finished with 14 points. “As a result, we didn’t get a good shot off. Anthony had the hot hand today, so I tried to get him the ball as much as I could. When the lane opens up I have to take it to the basket.”

Spencer scored a game-high 24 points and made seven of his eight free throw attempts. Sophomore Graham Alphson added 10 points while senior Cole Jacobs and junior Will Janney each sank a three-pointer.      

“At the end of the game our coach let us play and told us to get the victory for ourselves,” said Janney, who earned All-Western League football first team honors as a safety in the fall. “I’ve always played the one or two [in basketball] so the biggest adjustment for me has been the physicality playing the four or five. Coach has been telling me to use my quickness and my football strength to get position.”

Kerkorian’s three-pointer tied it, 20-20, early in the second quarter, but Palisades trailed 31-24 at halftime and 41-36 through three quarters.

“We’re communicating better on defense and we’re improving on offense—it’s just a matter of getting all the plays down,” Janney added. “It’s coming… whether it’s at  Morningside or Campbell Hall or in league, we’ll get there.  The Santa Monica game [Dec. 15] was a turning point. Even though we lost, we fought hard, stuck with them and executed our gameplan.”

Palisades traveled to Inglewood to face Morningside yesterday and wraps up nonleague action tomorrow night at Campbell Hall. Western League play begins Monday at Venice. The Dolphins were third in league last year behind Fairfax and Westchester.

“Early on it was about their names, now it’s about the name on the front [of the jersey],” Coach Donzell Hayes said. “The kids are buying in. It’s hard watching the youngsters mess up, but we have to let them play and catch up. Everyone in league is coming for us because of our record.”