Gray Scores 47 Points as Granada Hills Defeats Taft, 85-75

They held a shooting clinic Saturday night at North Hollywood High.

The head instructor was Granada Hills’ 6-9 center Gary Gray, who tossed in a career-high 47 points to lead the Highlanders to an 85-75 victory over Taft in the championship game of the North Hollywood tournament.

The assistant shooting instructor was Taft’s Kevin Franklin, who scored 36 points and made the all-tournament team.

Gray, who was named the tournament MVP, made 17 of 23 shots and 13 of 14 free throws, in addition to grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking two shots.

“We couldn’t stop him,” Taft Coach Jim Woodard said. “He played exceedingly well. My hat’s off to him.

“We zoned and manned him, but we couldn’t guard him.”

Gray had 30 points by halftime. He accounted for all 20 of Granada Hills’ points in the first quarter, scoring 18 and dishing out an assist on the other basket by Sam Puathasnanon.

Puathasnanon also had a big game, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. He was also named to the all-tournament team, as was Highlander guard Terrell Smith, who finished with 18 points.

It was Smith who keyed a third-period surge by Granada Hills (6-1) that put the Highlanders ahead to stay. The scored was tied at 41 at halftime, but Smith hit his first five shots of the third quarter, and the Highlanders forged a 59-53 lead.

They built the lead to 67-59 by the end of the period and never let Taft (4-3) closer than four points the rest of the way.

Overshadowed by Gray’s big night was Franklin’s effort. It was the fourth time in five games the Toreador guard has scored 30 or more points.

“I think Kevin played well, but our standards are very high for him,” Woodard said. “But it wasn’t our offense that was a problem. Seventy-five points is enough to win most high school basketball games.

“You can’t give up 85 points and expect to win.”

Franklin, who had 21 points at halftime, made 9 of 14 shots in the first half and 16 of 30 for the game.

Taft guard Gerrard Prince, who was also named to the all-tournament team, scored 14 points and backup center Sean Roberts had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Roberts was forced into action after starting center Brian Smith picked up three personal fouls in the first 2:16 while trying to cover Gray.

Both Taft centers finished with four fouls.

North Hollywood took third place at the tournament, defeating El Camino Real, 65-53.