Dorsey Bumped Off by North Hollywood

Geez, it was just a little foul. Or, rather, a big non-call.

North Hollywood High senior center Damon Ollie admitted as much. But then, there was plenty of the old bump-and-grind going on all night.

The way the Dorsey bench came unglued after the play in question, you’d have thought Ollie should have been hauled off in handcuffs.

“There was probably a little foul in there,” Ollie said, grinning. “It was a physical game, so you go with the flow.”

Ollie’s blocked shot was the key play as the Huskies held off Dorsey, 62-56, Friday night in the championship game of the North Hollywood tournament.

The Huskies (6-2) won their tournament title for the third consecutive year, but it didn’t come easy, or without raised eyebrows.

With North Hollywood leading, 46-43, with 4 minutes 56 seconds to play, Ollie blocked a shot by Ricky Blackmon. Though the bodies of the two players banged in midair, no foul was called. Dorsey Coach Kevin Gibson came unglued and was hit with two technical fouls.

“We were lucky to get that (non-call),” said North Hollywood guard Arthur Lee, who had 20 points. “They lost their cool.”

Lee made three of the four ensuing free throws for a 49-43 lead, and Dorsey (5-1) didn’t come closer than three points thereafter.

Luck also played a part in a key basket by Fantasia Johnson (12 points). With North Hollywood holding a 54-49 lead, a three-point shot by John Mundy bounced to Johnson at midcourt, and he cruised in for a layup.

Ollie, who finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds, was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

It was a white-knuckle ride for the Huskies in the fourth quarter. Lee picked up his fourth foul with 4:03 left and Ollie racked up No. 4 with 3:24 remaining.

However, the Huskies made all four of their shots and four of five free throws over the final 2:51 to put away Dorsey--which defeated the Huskies in the quarterfinals of the City Section 4-A Division playoffs last season.

In other games:

Chatsworth 59, Banning 47--Eddie Miller (18 points) and Tariq Hill (14) led a balanced attack to pace the Chancellors (6-3) in the third-place game.

Grant 80, Monroe 56--Shawn Hackett had 26 points to lead Grant (4-1) to the consolation title. Kenyatta Niles had 18 for Monroe (2-5).