Girls’ basketball: Palisades holds off Monroe to win City Division II title

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Palisades scored the first 14 points of the game and was on top, 18-3, after the first quarter in the City Section Division II girls’ championship game against Monroe. That only motivated Monroe even more, and the Vikings put quite a scare into the Dolphins before Palisades was able to hold on for a 53-49 victory at Roybal.

It took two free throws by Ashlie Bruner with 18 seconds left to clinch the victory for Palisades (23-5), which received 17 points and 10 rebounds from Donae Moguel and 16 rebounds from Asia Smith. Skai Thompson had three three-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 11 points.

Monroe’s (22-10) rally was led by junior Ayisat Afolabi, a straight-A student who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Maya Campo made four three-pointers and finished with 13 points.

‘They played hard and batted back,’ Palisades Coach Torino Johnson said of Monroe. ‘I’m in love with their work ethic.’

-- Eric Sondheimer