High School Basketball Highlights : Burroughs’ Antics Cause 1-Point Loss

Burroughs, leading by four points with four seconds left, appeared to have assured itself of a first-round victory in the Burbank-Hoover Tournament on Wednesday night against St. Francis.

But because one player celebrated too early, Burroughs lost, 70-69, at Hoover High.

Burroughs’ Dan Murphy made both ends of one-and-one free-throw situation with four seconds to go, giving the Indians a four-point lead and an apparent victory.

Murphy ran down to the opposite side of the court celebrating, however, and he jumped up and grabbed onto the rim as St Francis’ Frank Lagattuta launched a desperation, last-second three-point shot.

The officials called basket interference and a technical foul on Murphy, giving St. Francis the basket and two free throws.

Lagattuta, who had 27 points to lead all scorers, made both free throws with no time remaining to give St. Francis the win.

“That was just one of those things that you hope never happens again,” said Ira Sollod, in his second game as coach at Burroughs. “I’m just happy that it happened in preseason.

“It’s tough when you tell them exactly what to do and they don’t do it.”

Murphy scored 23 points and teammate Marcelino Casal added 27 points and nine rebounds.

Burroughs’ guard Marnie Calberon had four points but passed off for seven assists.

Sophomore guard Eddie Hill had to leave the game with an injury in the first quarter.

Sollod said Murphy won’t be banished to the doghouse for his costly show of exuberance.

“Murphy had a great game. It’s too bad it happened to him,” Sollod said. “He’s just in a hole.”

Taft 110, Canoga Park 36--Quincy Watts, playing in his first game in nearly a year, scored 27 points to lead the Toreadors in a nonleague victory over Canoga Park at Taft.

Watts, a 6-3 senior, played in Taft’s first three games last season before suffering a stress fracture that knocked him out for the remainder of the season.

Against Canoga Park, he made all 10 of his first-half shots and 13 of 14 overall.

Four other Taft players scored in double figures, including Donte McFrazier, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Said Taft Coach Jim Woodard: “I don’t like to embarrass anybody, but you can’t tell the kids not to shoot layups.”

North Hollywood 75, Montclair Prep 59--Sophomore guard Thomas Byrdsong scored 17 points to lead the Huskies to a nonleague victory at Montclair Prep.

Danny Klein, a 5-10 senior guard, had 15 points and 14 assists and sophomore Dana Jones had a triple-double--11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

North Hollywood was without the services of All-City forward Dominic Nappi, who twisted his right ankle in practice Tuesday. Nappi probably will miss Friday’s game against Taft, North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller said.

Montclair Prep’s Craig Handschu led all scorers with 31 points.

Kennedy 76, Granada Hills 73--John Johnson missed two three-pointers, including one at the buzzer, as the Cougars held off their neighborhood rival in a nonleague game at Granada Hills.

Uba Satterfield led Kennedy with 21 points and Clarence Williams added 17. Johnson and Alvin Brown led Granada Hills with 16 points each.

Sylmar 55, Monroe 48 (OT)--Shawn Rucker scored six of Sylmar’s seven overtime points to lead the Spartans to a nonleague victory at Monroe.

Rucker, a 6-1 transfer from Monroe, had a game-high 23 points and five assists.

Grant 58, El Camino Real 57 (OT)--Nate Conner sank a free throw with 25 seconds left in overtime to give the Lancers a nonleague victory at Grant.

Troy McLeod led Grant with 17 points and Conner added 11.

El Camino Real’s Nick Warner led all scorers with 18 points.

Chatsworth 72, Hollywood 58--Senior center Stuart Thompson had 10 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists to lead host Chatsworth to a nonleague victory.

For Chatsworth, David Waco had 12 points and eight assists, Rick Garrick had 15 points and eight assists and Eric Merkel added 14 points.

Chaminade 77, Providence 37--Senior guard Alex Rigolizzo, playing in his first varsity game, had 24 points to lead the Eagles to a first-round victory in the Orange Lutheran Tournament.

Compiled by Chris J. Parker and Steven Fleischman.