Pushed by Grant, North Hollywood Pulls Out Victory

Coach Howard Levine of Grant High should check to see if someone was using a voodoo doll Friday night to prevent the Lancers from overtaking North Hollywood.

Every time the Lancers made a run, North Hollywood found a way to stay on top.

“The basketball gods were shining on us,” Nathan Stern of North Hollywood said. “Every time we needed a big shot, someone hit it.”

Grant’s last chance came with two seconds left when Mike Charleston’s three-point shot from the baseline missed, and North Hollywood came away with a 57-54 victory, creating a three-way tie for first place in the Sunset Six League with Canoga Park and Grant.

Grant (13-6, 3-1 in league) scored the game’s first basket but never led again.

North Hollywood (13-5, 3-1) opened a 13-point lead to start the third quarter, then withstood repeated comebacks by the Lancers.

No one was more important for North Hollywood than 6-foot-5 junior Josiah James. He picked up his fourth foul with 5:30 left in the third quarter, was sent to the bench and seemed destined to stay there.

“I thought I was done,” James said.

But James contributed three consecutive baskets in the final quarter, two coming after Grant closed to within 52-50 with 4:17 left.

“We really didn’t expect him to hurt us that much in the paint,” Levine said. “Every time we tried to make a move, Josiah hurt us.”

Added North Hollywood Coach Rob Bloom: “Josiah hasn’t done that all year. This was a big step for him. He had to make big post moves three times.”

Gus Ruiz scored 13 points for North Hollywood and Charleston had 14 for Grant.

“We played with a lot of excitement and energy,” Bloom said. “We knew they were going to make a run at us. There were a lot of times we could have thrown in the towel and said, ‘We’re done.’ We kept responding.”

Stern, a shooting guard forced to be the point guard when Dominic Johnson transferred to Crenshaw, had only three turnovers.

“Truthfully, I hate playing point guard,” Stern said. “I really wish I didn’t have to.”

He does it for the team, which is why North Hollywood is in first place.