North Hollywood Takes Free Way to Victory at Venice : High school basketball: Huskies sink seven of nine foul shots in final minutes to turn back Gondoliers, 74-66.

Fantasia Johnson says North Hollywood High thrives on close games.

Given the circumstances Tuesday, perhaps that was the most positive statement Johnson could make.

North Hollywood, The Times’ top-rated team in the area, overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter on the strength of its free-throw shooting in the final two minutes to beat Venice, 74-66, in a nonleague game.

It was North Hollywood’s first game in California after losing two of three games in a tournament in Anchorage, Alaska, nearly two weeks ago.

The Huskies (2-2), who finished 26-2 last season and routinely routed their competition, made seven of nine free throws down the stretch while Venice missed five consecutive three-point shots in the final minutes.

But, it’s all part of the game plan, according to Johnson, who thinks that winning close games now will benefit the Huskies in the playoffs two months from now.

“We love it like this,” said Johnson, who finished with 20 points and made 10 free throws without a miss. “We want tough games that go down to the wire. That’s what we live for.”

That is exactly what the Huskies got.

North Hollywood held a 37-30 lead at halftime, compliments of senior Damon Ollie, who had 15 of his 21 points in the first half.

But Venice (3-3), which finished 11-8 last season and did not make the playoffs, wasted little time getting back into the game in the third quarter.

The Gondoliers’ 14-6 run to start the second half gave Venice its first lead. Larry Atkins converted an offensive rebound to give Venice a 44-43 lead with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Behind Quincy McCowen’s 10 points, Venice outscored North Hollywood, 26-14, in the third quarter for a 56-51 lead.

McCowen’s short jumper at the start of the final quarter gave Venice its largest lead, 58-51, before North Hollywood rallied.

Arthur Lee (14 points) tied it, 61-61, on a 15-foot jumper with 4:35 remaining. It was tied twice more before North Hollywood began pulling away.

Michael Poole made a free throw with 2:20 left to spark North Hollywood’s 9-1 run to the final buzzer.