Pali Hoops Ready for Comets

The last time Palisades’ boys’ basketball team played Westchester, the Dolphins were run out of their own gym, falling behind early on their way to a 74-59 loss. The teams meet again Friday night at Westchester and Palisades hopes to turn the tables on the Comets, needing a victory to gain a possible share of second place, depending on the outcome of Palisades’ game against Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and Westchester’s game against Fairfax on Wednesday (both results undetermined at press time). Palisades Coach James Paleno knows all too well that finishing third in the Western League, which the Dolphins will do unless they upset Westchester, likely means a road game in the first round of the City Championship playoffs. However, a strong nonleague and tournament schedule could earn his team a Top-8 seed and at least one home game in the 16-team tournament. The Dolphins (23-5 overall, 7-3) have won twice since their embarrassing 78-47 loss at reigning City champion Fairfax’a game in which Paleno said his players didn’t compete hard enough. First, Palisades beat visiting Venice, 79-60, last Friday to get back on the winning track, then the Dolphins whacked host University, 55-33, on Monday. The Dolphins hosted last-place LACES on Wednesday and head into tomorrow’s game at second-place Westchester with some momentum. Aaron Hawk-Harris had 24 points and Irvin Kintaudi added 11 in the Dolphins’ first meeting against Westchester on January 23’a game Palisades trailed 40-31 at halftime. Heading into Wednesday’s showdown, Westchester’s only league loss was to first-place Fairfax and the Comets were looking to avenge that loss on their home floor and move into a tie for first place before hosting Palisades in its league finale. Tip-off for Friday’s Palisades-Westchester varsity game is at 7 p.m. Girls Basketball Fairfax had not lost in league heading into last Wednesday’s game at Palisades and Dolphins coach Torino Johnson was confident his team would deal the Lions their first defeat. It didn’t happen. The Dolphins put up a fight with the home crowd on their side, but despite 16 points and 22 rebounds by junior Dominique Scott, Palisades (14-11, 5-5) was outscored 25-21 over the final 16 minutes. A 57-52 victory over Venice last Friday coupled with a 49-47 victory over University on Monday moved the Dolphins into fourth place, half a game behind Venice and half a game ahead of University. Palisades traveled to second-place LACES on Wednesday (result undetermined at press time) and hosts sixth-place Westchester in its season finale Friday at 4 p.m.