Photo: Steve Galluzzo
STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
One month into his first season, Palisades High girls basketball coach Adam Levine sees room for improvement, but acknowledges the progress made since his squad dropped its first two games in late November.
“We’re nowhere near where we want to be, but the players are learning their roles and they can all shoot—that’s why they’re on the court,” Levine said after the Dolphins’ 46-34 victory over Taft last Thursday in pool play at the Conquistadore Classic in Woodland Hills. “Our offense is coming around, but we’re not talking enough on defense.”
After rust and poor shooting cost the Dolphins in their opening game—a 44-38 loss to Agoura— they bounced back to defeat Taft and Canoga Park to earn a spot in Saturday’s fifth-place game, where they beat Van Nuys 53-36.
Last year at the same tournament the Dolphins beat Arleta and Chatsworth but fell to Chaminade and Burroughs to finish fourth.
Junior forward Jane Nwaba, who missed the last nine games last season with a finger injury, is playing for her third head coach in three years at Palisades. She had 29 points against Van Nuys.
“Every coach is different and we’re getting used to him, he subs more and wants everyone to get a touch,” Nwaba said of Levine, who follows Danielle Foley (last year) and Torino Johnson, who piloted the program to four City Section titles in 10 seasons. “I’m still aggressive but I don’t have to force any shots. We’re better than last year. We have a lot of shooters and we move the ball better. We just have to be patient, box out and not miss as many shots.”
Palisades is back in action Jan. 2-5 at the Cleveland Tournament in Reseda and resumes league play Jan. 7 at Hamilton.
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