BOYS’ CITY SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Jones Block Preserves North Hollywood Victory

Dana Jones blocked a last-second layup attempt to preserve North Hollywood High’s come-from-behind 78-77 victory over Hamilton in a City Section 3-A Division quarterfinal Wednesday night at Hamilton.

Hamilton’s Curtis Mays, who seconds earlier had made a layup to cut the deficit to one point, weaved through the lane and attempted the ill-fated shot at the buzzer.

He was met by Jones, a Pepperdine-bound center.

North Hollywood (22-3), which trailed for most of the fourth quarter, took a 76-75 lead with one minute to play when sophomore Robert Hill buried a 15-foot jump shot.

The Huskies expanded their advantage to three points after Harry Marks converted a one-and-one situation with 23 seconds to play.

Hamilton, which led, 75-72, went into seclusion with four minutes to play, employing a four-corners offense.

After burning two minutes off the clock, Hamilton turned the ball over on a backcourt violation. North Hollywood scored and Hamilton again attempted a stall. Again a turnover resulted.

“That killed them because they had the momentum,” North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller said.

Jones paced North Hollywood with 25 points, Marks scored 24 and Hill added 15.

The Huskies will play Grant in a semifinal game Friday night.

Jerry Stoval scored a game-high 26 for Hamilton.

In another 3-A quarterfinal:

Grant 58, Locke 40--Setro Terzian scored 21 points and Keith Weinstein added 15 to lead host Grant (22-3).

Rene de la Hoya had 11 rebounds and Brunell Mori added 10 for Grant, which trailed, 18-8, after the first quarter.

Grant outscored Locke (18-10), 32-10, over the next two quarters to secure a berth in the semifinals against North Hollywood.