Grant Goes to Overdrive and Wins in Overtime, 49-42

NORTH HOLLYWOOD —  Grant High wiped out an eight-point deficit in the final 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter and scored 15 unanswered points in a girls’ basketball game Wednesday to defeat North Hollywood, 49-42, in overtime.

The Lancers avenged a home-court loss to North Hollywood and prevented the Huskies from claiming the Sunset Six League title outright. The teams are in position to share the championship for the second consecutive season with victories on Friday.

Grant (16-8, 7-1 in league play) and North Hollywood (15-9, 7-1) each shot 27%, but the Lancers forced 30 turnovers and committed 17.

The Huskies turned the ball over four consecutive times to open overtime.

Krystal Clay, a 5-7 senior who had 20 points, scored twice in transition--a lay-up after Alexis Weatherspoon made a steal and a three-pointer--to give Grant a 47-42 lead with 2:59 to play in overtime.

The Huskies missed all six shots and two free throws in overtime before Weatherspoon, who finished with 12 points, made two free throws with 25 seconds to play to seal the victory.

“I told them all game to play defense, defense, defense,” Grant Coach Steve Brumwell said.

North Hollywood defeated Grant, 65-50, on Jan. 19 by outscoring the Lancers, 21-6, in the third quarter.

Trailing, 25-19, at halftime this time, the Huskies again dominated the third quarter when 6-foot senior Richelle Sherman scored six consecutive points. But Sherman’s domination ended there as Weatherspoon, a 5-7 senior, began to front her.

The Huskies took their first lead, 27-26, with 5:34 left in the third quarter when Kaipresha Price made two free throws. Price and Sherman each finished with 10 points. In North Hollywood’s victory, they combined for 35.

“Alexis is a very good post defender,” Brumwell said. “She has good footwork and good quickness.”

North Hollywood managed to build a 35-29 lead after three quarters. Grant made one of 11 shots in the quarter and turning the ball over seven times.

When 5-4 freshman Marsha Clever sank a three-pointer for a 42-34 lead with 3:46 to play, it appeared the Huskies were on the verge of victory. But they didn’t make another shot.

North Hollywood still has a chance to claim a share of its 15th title in 19 years under Coach Rich Allen, who wasn’t too dismayed after the game.

“When you’ve won as many league titles as we have, your focus is to get deep into the playoffs,” Allen said. “I feel we can compete with anybody in the playoffs when we play well. A lot of our errors [Wednesday] were unforced.”