Charlie Bailey goes airborne against a Venice defender in the Dolphins' Western League opener, which ended in a 0-0 tie. Rich Schmitt /Staff Photographer

By Steve Galluzzo, Sports Editor

2009-12-15
After finishing a strong fifth at the Pacific Shores Tournament in Redondo Beach to begin its season, the Palisades High boys' basketball team was back on the court last Friday for an important nonleague game at Reseda Cleveland--a game that could have seeding implications come playoff time.

The Dolphins won, 81-73, led by senior Kenneth Towner's 20 points and 8 rebounds, 18 points and 8 rebounds from senior Donovan Johnson and 16 points from senior co-captain Garrett Nevels. The game was tied 62-62 going into the fourth quarter before Palisades pulled away to improve to 4-1. In the teams' previous meeting two seasons ago, the Cavaliers beat the Dolphins 68-64 in the first round of the City playoffs.

Palisades plays Verdugo Hills in the first round of the San Fernando Valley Invitational on Friday. The tournament runs through Wednesday. The Dolphins then travel north for the Santa Barbara Holiday Tournament, which begins the day after Christmas before hosting Dorsey in their final nonleague game January 7.

Girls' Soccer

Palisades has begun Western League play the same way it did last season: with two dominating victories. Kathryn Gaskin scored all three goals in the Dolphins' 3-0 victory over Venice last Wednesday night, then Samantha Elander scored three goals and freshman Kathyrn Bamberger added two in a 8-0 rout at Fairfax last Friday.

Since dropping their first two games to West Valley League powers Granada Hills and Taft, the Dolphins (6-2, 2-0) have won six straight, outscoring their opposition 20-0. Gaskin, who led the team with 19 goals and 50 points as a sophomore last winter, has six goals and three assists (15 points) so far this season.

Boys' Soccer

The Dolphins didn't even have to score a goal to win for the fourth time in their first five games Monday, as they beat Santa Monica by forfeit. After opening Western League play with a 0-0 draw a Venice last Wednesday, Palisades edged Fairfax 2-1 on Friday thanks to goals by Shane Centkowski and Max Ledesma. The Dolphins (4-0-1, 1-0-1) host Westchester Friday at 2:30 p.m. in their last game before Winter Break.

Girls' Tennis

Jessie Corneli made third-team All-City after advancing to the third round of the City Individual singles tournament with a 7-6 (6), 5-7, 1-0 (6) win over Spencer Trotta of Marshall. Despite playing one of her best matches of the season, the Dolphins' sophomore fell, 6-2, 6-2, to senior Yuliya Maystruck of Taft.