Pali High Hoops Squads Ready for Tip-Off

Having made the City Section Open Division playoffs for the first time last season, Palisades High’s boys basketball team hopes to make it back to the upper bracket in 2022-23 led by senior guards Avery Lee and Zion Porter and forward Marcelo Mazzini.

Head coach and Dolphins alum Donzell Hayes has again entered the varsity in several tournaments, starting with the 33rd annual Paul Sutton Tip Off Classic this week at Providence High in Burbank.

Also scheduled are tournaments at Maranatha (Nov. 28-Dec. 3) and South Pasadena (Dec. 26-30) and a nonleague game Jan. 2 at El Camino Real. Palisades was third in the Western League last winter.   

Palisades’ girls team graduated nine players, including top scorers Demonnie Lagway and Janelly Portillo, but returning are senior forwards Taylor and Elise Arnold, senior guard Brooke Shibata and sophomore guard Alyssa Ramirez.   

The Dolphins went 12-0 in the Western League last winter before losing to Birmingham in the Open Division semifinals. The 2022-23 season tips off at home Tuesday night at 6 versus Culver City. Also scheduled are intersectionals with Mira Costa, Shalhevet, Liberty of Nevada, Orangewood Academy and Ontario Christian.

League for both boys and girls starts Dec. 5 versus Hamilton and ends Feb. 3 against Fairfax.

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