Deep Huskies Polish Off Lancers With Defensive Gem, 65-50

Richelle Sherman scored 19 points and North Hollywood High took sole possession of first place in the Sunset Six League with a 65-50 girls’ basketball victory over Grant on Friday at Grant.

The Huskies (11-8, 4-0 in league play) trailed, 28-26, at halftime, but outscored Grant, 21-6, in the third quarter.

Instead of double-teaming Grant’s leading scorer, Alexis Weatherspoon, North Hollywood focused on slowing the Lancers’ other senior guard, Krystal Clay.

“We played a diamond-and-one on Clay because we wanted to take her out of the game,” Coach Rich Allen of North Hollywood said. “At first we were out of control, but we talked it over at halftime and our execution was perfect in the second half.

“With Alexis, our goal was to make her take jump shots, not let her drive.”

Weatherspoon, who averages 23.4 points, scored 19 points before fouling out with 40 seconds left. Temma Healey had 15 points and Clay had 11.

North Hollywood opened the second half on an 11-2 run and built a 47-34 lead by the end of the third quarter on three consecutive baskets by Sherman, all on offensive rebounds.

Kaipresha Price scored 16 points and Melissa Escobar had 10 of her 14 in the fourth quarter for the Huskies, who lost twice to Grant last season.

“Grant likes to jump on you early, but they looked like the team that was tentative [Friday],” Allen said. “I felt along that we had more depth and that’s what made the difference.”

Grant (11-8, 3-1), defending league champion, had only seven players available and was missing starters Deja Cruz and Melissa Chingren.

North Hollywood used 11 players.