Photos: Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
A new era in Palisades High boys basketball annals got underway last week at the Leon Wood Tipoff Classic and the Dolphins gave their fans and first-year coach Jeff Bryant reason for optimism, finishing 2-2 in the tournament at St. Monica High.
In its first game Nov. 19, Palisades led most of the way but lost to Da Vinci 52-48 despite the stellar debut of guard Tommy Pickens, a senior transfer from Grand Blanc, MI, who scored 26 points. Jack Levey added seven while fellow returners Mikal Sims and Mo Butler each had five.
“It felt new… we’re still learning to communicate with each other,” said senior co-captain Aten Hassan. “Coach Bryant is doing a great job and we’ve gotten a lot better since the summer.”
The Dolphins resumed pool play the next day and beat Taft 74-52 led by Pickens’ 16 points, Butler’s 12 (on four 3-pointers) and Levey’s 10 points and five assists.
Bracket play began last Thursday and the Dolphins improved to 2-1 with a 72-51 victory over Western League rival LACES, last season’s City Open Division runner up.Sims scored 17 points, Levey had 16 with seven assists and Kye Davis, who
just received a Division 1 offer from Pepperdine, added 11.
Despite losing to West Torrance 50-46 Saturday in their tournament finale the Dolphins found plenty to build on before returning to action Dec. 19-23 at the Winter Slam Jam.
“A nice start, but we have a long way to go,” Bryant said.
Palisades did not pick up its second win last winter until its 13th game on Dec. 30.
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