Close Calls

Pali High Boys Basketball Battles but Loses at League Rivals University and Venice

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Down by 15 points at halftime last Friday night at Venice, the Palisades High varsity boys basketball team was issued a challenge by coaches Donzell Hayes and Kris Johnson: play hard for the last 16 minutes.

The Dolphins did just that against their archrivals, trimming the deficit to two points on Chris Kurihara’s three-pointer with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Palisades had a chance to tie it when Will Johnson stole the ball with 34 seconds remaining, but came up empty on the ensuing possession. After a pair of free throws extended the Gondoliers’ lead to four points, George Brown’s long range jumper hit the rim with three seconds to go and host Venice held on for a 55-51 victory.

“I’m not one for moral victories but I’m proud of our effort in the second half,” Kris Johnson said. “The kids gave everything they had and that’s all you can ask. We just have to have better starts.”

Will Johnson, the coach’s son, scored 23 points (including four three-pointers), Brown added 12 points and Kurihara finished with eight, but their strong performances weren’t quite enough to prevent the Dolphins from losing their seventh straight game and falling to 0-3 in the Western League.

For the first time in his seven years at Venice, head coach David Galley got to celebrate a league win against Palisades. He was 0-12 against the Dolphins heading into Friday’s contest and afterwards he appeared more relieved than elated.

“We’ve come close to beating them a few times but couldn’t get it done so it’s nice to finally do it,” said Galley, whose team is off to a  14-6 start and is one of the favorites to win the City Section Division II title. “We’re small so we  tried to get the ball up and down the court and play our tempo. They did a great job adjusting in the second half. Their post guy [Brown] is big and strong. We didn’t take care of the ball and that allowed them to get back in it.”

Venice had a seemingly secure 32-17 lead at intermission, but the Dolphins’ full-court pressure forced numerous turnovers and held the home team to four points in the third quarter. The Gondoliers built the lead back up to 12 points with 3:25 left before withstanding Palisades’ final surge.

Christian Morataya scored 24 points (including four three-pointers) and fellow guard Ryan Lee added 11 for Venice.   

Two nights earlier Palisades found itself in a similar situation  at University. The host Wildcats led throughout, but Kurihara’s three-pointer pulled the Dolphins within one point, 55-54, with 1:55 left.

Jude Agbasi’s eight-foot jumper put University back up by three with 38 seconds left and the Wildcats made their free throws down the stretch to survive, 63-57.

Will Johnson again led Palisades with 22 points, Kurihara had 16 with four three-pointers and Brown had six.

The Dolphins host league rival LACES at 6:30 Friday night.