San Fernando is Blue After Attack by Gray

Dismal and rainy outside, it was a Gray day inside the Granada Hills High gym as well.

Gary Gray, a 6-8 center, had 20 points and 17 rebounds to lead Granada Hills to a fast-paced 87-79 win over San Fernando on Friday night.

The victory was the Highlanders’ eighth without a loss in the Northwest Valley League and gave them a 2 1/2-game lead over San Fernando.

Even when Gray wasn’t scoring, his presence opened the lane for the aggressive drives of guards Terrell Smith (24 points) and Sam Puathasnanon (16). San Fernando center Shelton Boykin tended to hang close to Gray rather than challenge Smith and Puathasnanon.

“We’ve been passing off to Gary quite a bit lately,” Granada Hills Coach Bob Johnson said, “and I think Shelton was more concerned with staying with him. This was Terrell Smith’s best game all season. He penetrated beautifully.”

With San Fernando trailing by only one with 2:42 left in the game, Smith hit two free throws. After Reggie Prince countered with a foul shot, Puathasnanon drove the lane for a seven-foot shot and, seconds later, made a free throw to give Granada Hills an 82-77 lead.

Puathasnanon missed a shot on the Highlanders’ next time down the floor, but Gray tipped it in to make the lead insurmountable with 1:20 left.

A stirring slam dunk by Gray at the end of a fast break gave Granada Hills an early 21-12 lead.

San Fernando (9-8, 5-2 in league) trailed by 11 after one quarter but pulled to within five at halftime by forcing turnovers with a full-court press. Granada Hills (15-3) turned the ball over 22 times.

The Highlanders were able to score several easy baskets when they beat the press with long passes, however.

“Our first option is to look for the long pass,” Puathasnanon said. “If that wasn’t open, we took our time getting up court.”

Prince, who had 16 points for San Fernando, hit three straight outside shots to cut the Highlander lead to one point early in the third quarter. The Tigers scored 26 points in a torrid third period, and trailed, 65-64, going into the fourth.

Granada Hills never lost the lead, though, as strong rebounding by Gray and Dennis Bishop (17) kept San Fernando from getting second shots.