A basketball season is a marathon not a sprint and no one understands that better than Palisades High girls coach Torino Johnson.
For him, the journey is the reward — seeing improvement throughout the course of the year — and he knows every game, win or lose, makes his team stronger.
“It’s all about getting better and we are, even if our record doesn’t show that,” Johnson said after Saturday’s 62-46 defeat to La Jolla Bishop’s in the Matt Dennings Hoops Classic at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana. “We’ve had so many injuries, but that comes with the territory and you have to make the most of what you’ve got.”
The loss dropped the Dolphins to 3-10 overall, but Johnson knows all of their goals are still attainable — the Western League title, the City Section Division I title and a CIF state playoff berth. Injuries to guards Jillian Archer, Hydeia Duronslet and Caytlnn Gorden have left the team without much depth. In fact, the Dolphins managed to win two games at the Orange County Tournament with only five players.
Seven players suited up Saturday against La Jolla Bishop’s. Junior guard Kayla Merrill-Gillett led the way with 14 points for the Dolphins, who trailed only 21-19 after the first quarter. Freshman guard Sammy Spanier scored 12 points, senior guard Rita Herbstman had 11 and senior forward Bianca King added seven. Bishop’s was able to stretch its lead thanks to six three-pointers from Alessandra Aguirre and 15 points and 13 rebounds from Destiny Littleton.
Sophomore guard Chaniya Pickett scored a basket and Hannah Akahoshi had two assists for Palisades, which fell behind 34-25 at halftime against the Knights (13-2), who won the San Diego Section Open Division title last season.
“I love being part of anything Mater Dei is putting on,” said Johnson, who always schedules “up” to toughen his team for the postseason. “We’re not going to get this kind of competition in our section. These are the types of teams we have to play to prepare for what’s ahead and I’m having a lot of fun coaching this group.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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