Inglewood Beats Peninsula on Late Basket by Turks

Sam Turks made a 17-foot jump shot with two seconds left Wednesday night to lift Inglewood High to a 54-52 victory over Peninsula in a Bay League opener at Inglewood.

“Thank God it went in,” Turks said. “I knew it was coming to me. I knew it was going to be good.”

In December, Turks made a three-point basket at the buzzer to defeat Morningside, 69-67, in a nonleague game.

Paul Pierce had 12 points and Givon Hester had 11 for Inglewood (9-8). Ralph Shelton added eight rebounds and three blocks.

Pierce scored Inglewood’s first 12 points of the fourth quarter to keep the Sentinels in the game.

Inglewood led, 40-37, entering the fourth quarter. Pierce opened the quarter with two three-point baskets to extend the Sentinels lead to 46-40 with a little more than six minutes to play.

Tim Akins made two three-point baskets to bring Peninsula within 50-48, and Brian Bowles made two free throws with 2:26 to play to tie the score.

Pierce scored on a baseline drive 22 seconds later to put the Sentinels ahead, 52-50. However, Akins tied the score with two free throws with 1:14 to play.

After an Inglewood turnover, Pierce regained possession for the Sentinels with just over a minute to play. Inglewood then held the ball for Turks’ winning basket.

“I just had to step it up a notch,” the 6-4 sophomore said.

Peninsula led, 26-25, at halftime but fell behind by nine points early in the third quarter as the Sentinels opened the second half with 10 consecutive points.

Hester scored eight points, including two breakaway layups and a dunk, during the spurt. The 6-3 senior, however, picked up his fourth foul late in the third quarter and received his fifth with 7:33 left to play.

Matt Acres had a game-high 15 points and Akins added 10 for Peninsula (10-6). The Panthers, who led 13-9 after the first quarter, opened the second quarter with five consecutive points and held Inglewood scoreless during a 4:45 span midway through the first half to open an 18-9 lead.