WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : North Hollywood Does Inside Job on Birmingham

North Hollywood High girl’s basketball team used its height advantage to overcome a rash of flu cases Wednesday in a 66-45 West Valley League win over Birmingham.

North Hollywood Coach Rich Allen had complained that most of his players had the flu. Allen also noted that his big players, namely 6-1 center Debbie Herz, would have no problem getting position around the basket because Birmingham’s tallest player was only 5-9.

As predicted, the height factor weighed heavily against host Birmingham. North Hollywood made 21 shots within two feet of the goal and Herz dominated the key area and had 21 points and 22 rebounds.

“We just didn’t have that much rebounding inside,” Birmingham Coach Jerry Coates said. “You just can’t win if you let a girl get 22 rebounds against you.”

North Hollywood (9-2, 4-0) took a 16-8 lead after the first quarter, but Birmingham (9-5, 2-2) played the Huskies close in the second and third quarters.

Birmingham trailed, 40-29, midway through the third quarter, but Shaggaro Lattin made a three-point play to trigger an 11-2 run that cut North Hollywood’s lead to 42-40.

But the comeback seemed to drain the energy out of Birmingham’s eight-player team, and North Hollywood outscored the Braves in the fourth quarter, 22-5.

“The best thing about our team is that it responds to pressure,” Allen said. “The players don’t panic, they play. They got to within two points of us and we end up winning by about 20. That’s the sign of a very good team.”

NORTH HOLLYWOOD--Herz 21 points, Rocher 17, Sharp 8, Carranza 8, Cabaldon 6, Mickelson 4, Anger 2.

BIRMINGHAM--Rubenroit 16, Lattin 11, Bennett 8, Cannon 6, Aikins 2, Moore 2, .