NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOURNAMENT : Chatsworth Won’t Fall Into Trap

A new day, a different defense to attack, but the result was the same for the Chatsworth High boys’ basketball team.

The Chancellors survived a trapping defense that forced 10 second-half turnovers to defeat Banning, 65-63, Thursday night in the second round of the North Hollywood tournament.

For the second consecutive day, the Chancellors lost a 13-point lead in the second half. On Wednesday, Chatsworth defeated Grant, 69-68, but committed 18 turnovers in the final three quarters. Most of the turnovers came when Grant employed a full-court press.

Against Banning, the Chancellors committed 15 turnovers and survived a half-court shot by Haven Hall that hit the rim as time expired to advance to tonight’s championship game against North Hollywood.

“We’re trying to use these games as practice for different situations,” Chatsworth Coach Bill Whiting said. “We mastered the press well tonight, now we’ve got the trap. I’m glad we get to see all these defenses so early,”

The half-court shot was Banning’s second chance to tie or win in the waning seconds. Center Rick Sanchez had a chance to tie the score with 10 seconds left but made just one free throw. Chatsworth’s Tariq Hill added a free throw with four seconds left.

“We’re getting a little frustrated because the way we play sometimes it shouldn’t come down to the last shot,” Hill said. “We have to do a better job to put it away.”

The Pilots (7-2) double-teamed junior center Eddie Miller throughout the game, freeing the perimeter for junior guard Jerome Joseph and senior forward Hill.

While Miller and Hill struggled from the field, Joseph had 21 points and eight rebounds. Miller finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds but made just four of sixteen shots. Hill had 12 points but missed his last six three-point shots.

“Eddie might have been struggling because of the double-team but he was able to find the open man,” Joseph said. “I was just able to knock down the jumper.”

The Chancellors received a boost off the bench from Lee Larsen. Larsen connected on all five of his shots, including two critical baskets while Chatsworth (4-1) was trading the lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Banning guard Brian Jones had 23 points and eight rebounds.

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North Hollywood 76, Monroe 61--Husky guard Arthur Lee scored eight of his 33 points during a 13-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to break open a tied game.

Terry Smith-Harris added 15 points and 10 rebounds for North Hollywood (5-2). Shannon Johnson had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Shaka Steiner scored 20 points for Monroe (4-3), which led by two points after three quarters but was outscored, 26-9, in the final quarter.

Tim Johnson added 14 points for the Vikings.

Senior Mike Delano, who scored 24 points in a first-round victory over Granada Hills, was suspended indefinitely by North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller for breaking unspecified team rules and did not play.