BHHS Boys’ Basketball Team Ends 2006 With Back-To-Back Victories

1/3/07

By Steven Herbert

The Beverly High boys’ basketball team played what coach Luis Turcios called its “most complete” game of the season in a 72-43 victory over Stevenson Ranch West Ranch in the 13th-place game of the Hart Holiday Classic Saturday at Hart High School.

“It was really good to see that we’re getting better,” Turcios said.

Norman senior guard Cosmo Morabbi scored 23 of his season-high 34 points in the first half, while Jerome Johnson and Percy Miller each added 11.

“I thought Cosmo was superb,” Turcios said.

Morabbi scored seven points, including making his first of six three-point baskets, and Miller also scored seven points in the first quarter, as Beverly Hills (6-7) outscored the Wildcats, 22-11.

Morabbi single-handedly outscored West Ranch, 16-11, in the second quarter, making two three-point baskets, as the Normans scored 22 points, taking a 44-20 halftime lead.

Beverly Hills led 60-31 entering the fourth quarter, after outscoring the Wildcats, 16-11, in the third quarter, with Morabbi scoring eight points, including two three-point field goals.

Both teams scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, with Morabbi making a three-point basket and the Wildcats (2-11) two.

Another key for the Normans was the return of sophomore guard Julian Wheeler, who had missed the previous three games because of ankle and knee injuries, Turcios said.

“It was good to see that Julian was back and he looked pretty good,” Turcios said.

Julius Von Hanzlik added eight points, Wheeler six, and Daniel Placik two for Beverly Hills.

In other tournament games:

Beverly Hills 67, Van Nuys 53

The Normans led 42-39 entering the fourth quarter, then outscored the Wolves, 25-14, over the final eight minutes to win a 13th-place semifinal Friday.

Morabbi scored nine of his game-high 28 in the fourth quarter while Miller was eight-for-eight from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points.

Riad Bekhit added 10, including a three-point basket and a free throw in the fourth quarter.

Miller scored 10, including two three-point baskets, in the first quarter, and Morabbi scored five, including the first of his four three-point baskets, as Beverly Hills outscored Van Nuys, 19-12.

The Normans’ lead was cut to 26-24 at halftime as they were outscored, 12-7, in the second quarter, despite Morabbi’s three-point basket.

Morabbi scored 11 points in the third quarter, including going four-for-four from the free throw line and making a three-point basket, as Beverly Hills outscored the Wolves, 16-15.

Clifford Frazier added four, all in the fourth quarter, Demontae Flint two and Von Hanzlik one for the Normans.

Glendale 64, Beverly Hills 48

The Normans were unable to recover from being outscored 25-9 in the first quarter of a consolation quarterfinal last Thursday.

Miller scored 23, 19 after the first quarter, and Morabbi 16, 13 after the first quarter.

Beverly Hills trailed 38-23 at halftime after outscoring the Nitros, 14-13, in the second quarter, as Miller scored 10 points and Von Hanzlik made a three-point basket.

The Normans trailed 51-28 entering the fourth quarter after being outscored 13-5 in the third quarter.

Beverly Hills outscored Glendale, 20-13, in the fourth quarter as Morabbi scored eight points, making his second and third three-point baskets of the game, while Miller also scored eight points.

Von Hanzlik added five points and Frazier and Johnson two each.

Fresno Central 79, Beverly Hills 62

The Normans trailed 37-32 at halftime, and were outscored 20-17 in the third quarter and 22-14 in the fourth in a first-round game Dec. 27.

Morabbi scored 21 of his 26 over the final three quarters, while Miller and Johnson each scored 10.

Mohammad Shahshahan added seven, Flint five and Von Hanzlik four for Beverly Hills.

Morabbi and Shahshahan each scored five points and both made three-point baskets in the first quarter as the Normans were outscored, 17-16.

Flint scored five points and made a three-point basket and Morabbi also scored five points in the second quarter as Beverly Hills was outscored, 20-16.

Morabbi scored nine points, going five-for-five from the free throw line and Johnson scored six points in the third quarter.

Morabbi scored seven points in the fourth quarter.

In a nonleague game:

Saugus 68, Beverly Hills 57

The Normans led 12-10 after the first quarter, but were outscored 20-12 in the second quarter and 20-13 in the third Dec. 15 at Saugus.

Morabbi scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, making two three-point baskets and six of eight free throws, as Beverly Hills outscored the Centurions, 20-18.

Von Hanzlik added 12, Miller 10, including three-point baskets in the first and second quarters, Flint seven, including a second-quarter three-point basket, and Frazier and Johnson two each.

What’s Next?

The Normans are scheduled to open Ocean League play Wednesday at Inglewood in a game set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ Soccer

Palm Desert Tournament

Beverly Hills 3, Indio 0

Alex Pop, Nikki Sharaf and Joey Sundy scored for the Normans and Becca Gold and Gina Hendron combined on the shutout Dec. 26.

Hendron made three saves and Gold one.

Palm Desert 1, Beverly Hills 0

Gold made eight saves, but allowed a second-half goal Dec. 27.

Beverly Hills 1, Cathedral City 0

Amanda Brandeis scored her second goal of the season in the second half off Emily Litvak’s assist and Gold made five saves for her second shutout of the season Dec. 27.

Beverly Hills 1, Big Bear 0

Pop scored her team-leading 10th goal of the season in the second half off Tanya Djafar’s assist and Gold made seven saves for her third shutout of the season for the Normans (7-6-1) Dec. 28.

The tournament was played at Palm Desert High School

What’s Next?

The Normans are scheduled to play host to Lawndale today in a nonleague game and Inglewood Wednesday in their Ocean League opener. Both games are set to begin at 3 p.m. at Nickoll Field.

Boys’ Soccer

South Holiday Tournament

Beverly Hills 0, Torrance 0

(Beverly Hills advances on penalty kicks, 5-4)

Norman goalkeeper David Roston made eight saves for his second shutout of the season in a first-round game Dec. 20 at Torrance High School. “We were terrific,” Beverly Hills coach Steve Rappaport said, singling out Sam Forrest for praise in his first game of the season at sweeper, replacing Daniel Kohen, who broke a leg in a pickup game.

Los Alamitos 2, Beverly Hills 1

Forrest scored on a 53rd-minute penalty kick for the Normans in a championship bracket second-round match Dec. 22 at South Torrance High School. Beverly Hills was awarded the penalty kick when Erik Munzer was fouled in the penalty area on a breakaway. The Griffins, ranked third in the lone Southern Section Division I poll released this season, scored in the 23rd minute and received an own goal in the 43rd minute and led 11-8 in shots. Roston made nine saves. “We played great,” Rappaport said. “They’re a very strong program. To be honest, a little surprised we competed so well. The team is disappointed it lost the game. We had a chance to tie near the end, just had a ball in the box and couldn’t put it away.” Forrest “had a tremendous game” and Jonathan Elbaz “played very well on defense,” Rappaport said.

Harbor City Narbonne 2, Beverly Hills 0

The Normans led 12-11 in shots, but allowed goals in the 45th and 65th minutes of a 70-minute ninth-place bracket game Dec. 22 at South Torrance High School. Roston made nine saves.

“The wind was a big factor in the game,” Rappaport said after his team’s record fell to 3-7-1, including a 1-6-1 record in its last eight games. “We had the wind in the first half and we had two easy opportunities to score and blew them both and basically weren’t able to move the ball in the second half at all. [I] didn’t think we played particularly well. We were a little flat.” Senior Trevor Charlston “played pretty well” for the Normans while Forrest also drew praise from Rappaport.

What’s Next?

The Normans are scheduled to play at Palos Verdes, ranked fourth in Division II, today at 3 p.m.; play host to Cerritos Valley Christian, ranked ninth in Division V, Friday at 5 p.m. at Nickoll Field and at Lawndale Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in nonleague games and play at Inglewood Wednesday at 6 p.m. in their Ocean League opener.

Girls’ Water Polo

Beverly Hills 12, Montebello Schurr 7

Jennifer Horowitz scored four second-half goals and Michelle Margolin also scored four times in a nonleague game at East Los Angeles College Dec. 13 as the Normans extended their winning streak to five games after beginning the season 0-3.

Beverly Hills (5-3) allowed the game’s first two goals, but took the lead for good by scoring the next four, with Margolin scoring twice and Kira Xie and Justine Navid once each. After the Spartans ended that streak, Margolin scored for a third time 1:29 before halftime, putting the Normans ahead, 5-3.

Horowitz, Margolin, Navid and Xie scored in the third quarter, giving Beverly Hills a 9-6 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Horowitz scored three goals in the fourth quarter, getting her first two in a 49-second span, increasing the Normans’ lead to 11-6 with 5:15 remaining. She scored the game’s final goal with 35 seconds to play.

Beverly Hills goaltender Marissa Srour made 12 saves.

What’s Next?

The Normans are scheduled to compete in the Anaheim Western Tournament today through Saturday and open Ocean League play at El Segundo Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball

Beverly High is scheduled to play host to Los Angeles Notre Dame Academy Friday and Inglewood Wednesday in its Ocean League opener. Both games are set for the Swim-Gym and to begin at 6 p.m.

Steven Herbert also covers sports for The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times. He welcomes feedback and suggestions. He can be reached by e-mail at StvHerbert@aol.com, by telephone at (310) 275-7943 or by fax at (310) 273-4519.

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