South Gate Surprises Huskies : Prep basketball: North Hollywood falls in City Section 3-A Division semifinal, 70-63.

North Hollywood basketball Coach Steve Miller has never coached a more-talented team than the one that took the court in Tuesday’s City Section 3-A Division semifinal game against South Gate.

At least that was what Miller told his team minutes after the Huskies were upset, 70-63, in front of a roaring, packed Grant gymnasium.

“I told them that I loved them and that they were my favorite team,” Miller said.

“I said if this is the worst loss you ever have in your life, then you will be OK.”

North Hollywood (26-2), the Times’ No. 1 team in the region which has met Fremont in the past two championship games, led throughout the first three quarters, but the lead slowly slipped away in the final five minutes.

And South Gate junior forward Eric Wright, an All-City player last season, was the primary reason.

Wright finished with a season-high 31 points, including 21 in the second half.

Wright’s put-back basket with 5 minutes 56 seconds to play gave South Gate its first lead, 55-54. Less than a minute after the Rams took the lead, North Hollywood sophomore center Damon Ollie (19 points) fouled out.

With 3:50 remaining, the Huskies regained the lead, 59-58, on one of DeShawn Harvey’s five three-point baskets.

North Hollywood’s Robert Hill, a three-year starter, showed leadership with a 15-foot jump shot off a drive that moved the Huskies ahead, 61-59.

But Hill fouled out with 2:13 left and things looked bleak for No. 2-seeded North Hollywood.

South Gate scored nine consecutive points in the final 1:54 to advance to its first City basketball title game.

The Huskies still led, 63-62, with 1:04 left and had Harvey at the line for a one and one, but Harvey’s first attempt bounced off the rim and into the hands of Wright.

North Hollywood breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs with an average winning margin of 25.5 points.