Dolphins Avoid Upset

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Basketball games are not won on paper, they are won on the floor. Palisades High coach Donzell Hayes knows all too well the danger of underestimating any opponent, especially in the playoffs.

“From now on, there are no easy games,” he said after last Wednesday’s 56-53 victory over Chatworth in the first round of the City Section Division I playoffs. “Their record is not indicative of their ability. They play in the same league as Birmingham and Taft (both Open Division teams), just like we play in a league with Fairfax and Westchester. They’re used to a high level of competition.”

Chatsworth, seeded 13th out of 16 schools, entered the postseason having won only six of its 30 games, but the Chancellors nearly pulled off the upset behind a 24-point effort by its sharpshooting captain Christian Simonian. Senior forward Dayne Downey countered with 27 for the fourth-seeded Dolphins (15-12), who hosted No. 5 Hamilton in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

“This is a reality check, it was their March Madness,” Hayes said. “This is a 16-quarter season. We’ve survived the first four quarters, now it’s on to the next four.”

Chatsworth led 53-52 before Chris Kurihara’s driving layup gave the Dolphins the lead for good with 1:21 remaining. William Garcia was fouled on the Chancellors’ next possession, but he missed both free throws and Downey grabbed the rebound. A shot clock violation gave Chatsworth the ball back, but John Nishi missed a runner in the lane. Downey was fouled on the rebound and sank both free throws to make it a three-point game with 5.8 seconds left.

It wasn’t until a mishandled ball deflected into the arms of Pierre Kaku that the Dolphins could finally celebrate.

“At the end, it was no threes and no fouls,” Hayes said. “We weren’t getting easy shots, but we were in the bonus so I told our guys to get it in the post and get to the [free throw] line.”

Chatsworth led for most of the first quarter, but Daniel Emein got a friendly bounce on a three-pointer to give the Dolphins a 16-15 before the horn. Palisades led 30-29 at halftime and 41-40 after three quarters.      

Emein had nine points, Dylan Griffin had five and Kaku, Michael Spencer and Zack Lynch each added three.

Palisades and Hamilton split their two league meetings this season. The Yankees eliminated the Dolphins 60-56 in the same round last year. The winner of Tuesday’s contest (result was unavailable at press time) advances to face either No. 1-seeded Crenshaw or No. 8 Venice in the semifinals Friday at 8 p.m. at Roybal Learning Center.

The final is Saturday, March 4 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.