HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : North Hollywood Wins Title on Final Shot

Damon Ollie tipped in teammate Marcus Sanders’ missed shot with one second remaining to give North Hollywood High a 65-63 come-from-behind victory over Thousand Oaks in the final of the eighth Simi Valley basketball tournament Saturday night at Simi Valley High.

Earlier, Sanders had tied the score, 63-63, with 1 1/2 minutes remaining. After a missed Thousand Oaks shot, the Huskies’ Romain Coleman grabbed the rebound and Coach Steve Miller told his squad to hold the ball for the final 1:20 and the last shot.

With four seconds left, Sanders drove the lane but his layup bounded off the rim. Ollie, a 6-foot-5, 210 pound junior center, was there for the tip-in as the buzzer sounded.

“We didn’t want them to have the ball in their hands again and we are very confident in our delay game,” North Hollywood assistant Eli Essa said.

“But I must say I was praying to “Our Lady of Rebounds” on that last shot, and Damon came through after having an off night.”

Ollie had only eight points in the game but he grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Guard Fantasia Johnson led North Hollywood (5-0) with 21 points and Arthur Lee added 17.

Thousand Oaks (3-1) led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, 27-17, after a Denny LeVine basket.

North Hollywood had cut the lead to 51-50 at the end of the third quarter on a buzzer beater by Johnson.

Nick Foster (17 points) came off the bench to share team scoring honors with Peter Lauder. Foster also grabbed 12 rebounds. LeVine had 12 points.

Simi Valley claimed third place with a 59-47 victory over Camarillo.

Guard Ryan Briggs scored all nine of his points in the second quarter to lead the Pioneers (3-1) from a 16-10 first-quarter deficit.

Sean Malia led Simi Valley with 13 points and Jeff Barlow added 11.

Forward Jimmy Harbour had a game-high 21 points for Camarillo (2-2).