Boys’ basketball: Tough task for Palisades

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To say that Palisades is an underdog for its state playoff game against No. 1 Long Beach Poly on Tuesday night at Poly is an understatement.

But Coach James Paleno said he is looking forward to the game.

‘Somebody has to play them,’ he said. ‘I could give the David vs. Goliath speech from Hoosiers. We’re trying to win.’

Palisades has a group of quality juniors, and whether the Dolphins win or lose, this is a game they can use to prepare for next season, when they should be one of the top teams in the City Section.

Paleno, though, isn’t thinking about next season.

‘I’ll take a chance over no chance,’ he said of playing the Jackrabbits.

Donovan Johnson, Palisades’ outstanding junior guard, will be given a chance to shoot often to try to keep his team in the game.

-- Eric Sondheimer