Pali High Hoops Looks to Rebound

It's tough enough to beat quality opponents when you're at full strength, but trying to compete against the top teams in the Southland without your best player is an even tougher task. Yet that's what the boys basketball team has had to do so far this season.

The Dolphins' star guard Donovan Johnson hurt his lower back after a hard foul in Palisades' second game of the season against Redondo Union at the Pacific Shores Tournament and he did not play at all in last week's Santa Monica Tournament, where the Dolphins finished 1-3, defeating Corona Centennial before losing to Mission Hills Alemany, Los Angeles Windward and Woodland Hills El Camino Real.

"Regardless of who we have on the floor, I expect us to compete better," Coach James Paleno said after Thursday's 77-60 loss to Alemany. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves because we have some players out, we still have to play good defense, box out and we can't allow uncontested layups and open lanes to the basket."

Johnson watched from the bench as Alemany took a 14-point halftime lead and continued to grow its lead in the third quarter. Though Palisades won the fourth quarter 24-14 it had built too big a deficit.

"Every team plays through injuries, but I don't know that we've ever had this many injuries," Paleno said. "Assistant Coach Ed Estavan has to help run our practices because we only have 10 guys. I think we can be very good, I only wish we were healthy."

Junior wing Jalon Wilson is recovering from injury and Paleno said he is still nowhere near game shape. Jalen Ewell is injured and hasn't played, Ryan Ford is nursing a sprained ankle and another junior, Dakota Chambers, is out with a knee injury. Johnson, who was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Western League last year and , could be back on the floor soon.

"This is the first day I've been off pain pills so I'm feeling it, but hopefully I'll be ready in maybe a week," he said. "It's hard watching and not being able to play."

Senior co-captain Tyler Duke had 20 points, Brenden Otero had 10 and Tyler Hildreth added eight for the Dolphins (2-6) against Alemany, which lost in the finals to Mission League rival L.A. Loyola.

Against Windward, which beat the Dolphins 67-63 Friday, Hildreth led the way with 16 points, Duke had 15 and Wilson added 14 points, six assists and four steals for Palisades. In its last game of the tournament on Saturday, Palisades lost to El Camino Real, 53-51. The Conquistadores play in the Los Angeles City Section's West Valley League.

The Dolphins begin Western League play on Friday at Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, then travel to San Juan Capistrano to face JSerra Catholic on Dec. 21 before opening the Oaks Christian Tournament against Compton Centennial two days after Christmas. 

Palisades' first home game isn't until Jan. 6 against Gahr of Cerritos, which beat Lakewood Mayfair to win the CIF Southern Section 2A championship last season. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coach Torino Johnson's squad rebounded from its first loss of the season, 71-40, to Fullerton Troy by beating Warren of Downey 42-32 to conclude the Santa Ana Mater Dei Tournament.

The Dolphins (6-1) got 11 points apiece from seniors Ashley Bruner and Donae Moguel (who also had 17 rebounds) and Asia Smith chipped in seven points in the win against Downey. Before losing to Troy, Palisades used a 27-4 run in the third quarter to beat Long Beach St. Anthony 71-50 behind Moguel's 27 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks.

Palisades opens the Nike Tournament of Champions against Chandler of Arizona on Dec. 19 and plays Chula Vista Mater Dei on Dec. 27 in the first round of the Oaks Christian Tournament. The Dolphins open Western League play Jan. 4 at Westchester.

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