Down by 15, North Hollywood Recovers, Then Loses at Buzzer

North Hollywood High’s comeback bid was thwarted Tuesday when Payson (Utah) scored at the buzzer to post a dramatic 68-67 victory in the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic.

Scott Moody hit the winning shot from six feet as time expired, negating a Husky rally that appeared complete when Fantasia Johnson executed a three-point play with 1 minute 11 seconds left.

The Huskies had surged from 15 points down in the final six minutes. Johnson’s layup after a steal plus an ensuing free throw gave North Hollywood a 67-66 lead.

After Johnson’s go-ahead play, Payson missed a short jumper, then was called for traveling after grabbing the offensive rebound.

But North Hollywood (6-3) twice missed the front end of one-and-one tries in the last minute. The Huskies also committed a turnover under Payson’s basket with two seconds left to set up Moody’s heroics.

North Hollywood will meet Norland High of Miami today at 2 p.m. in a losers’ bracket game.

Payson (4-3) crumbled under North Hollywood’s defensive pressure.

The Lions led, 64-49, with 6:23 left, but Mo Shivers keyed an 18-2 run over the next five minutes, hitting two three-point shots from deep in the corner.

Arthur Lee, who led the Huskies with 23 points, made 11 of 18 field-goal attempts. He was joined in double figures by Damon Ollie with 18 and Johnson with 11.