Balance Keys Victory for Birmingham

To listen to Elliot Turret before Friday’s game at Granada Hills High, he could pass for a stand-up comedian instead of a high school basketball coach. The Birmingham coach was full of one-liners.

Describing his best player: “I’m waiting for someone tall to walk in, put on a uniform and play for us.”

On his top scorers: “We’ve got a bunch of guys averaging four points. Balanced scoring.”

Turret had the last laugh, however, as six Braves scored in double figures and Birmingham defeated Granada Hills, 82-70, in a pivotal Northwest Valley League game.

“The last time we played them it was a real exciting game, but we lost by one point,” said Turret, more serious this time. “I’ll take a win over an exciting game.”

Jason Moore led Birmingham with 15 points and Greg Maxwell added 14. Glen Sucich (13), Jason Wallace (12), Panaka Chea (10), and Brian Johnson (10) contributed to Birmingham’s balance, something Granada Hills lacked.

The Highlanders played their second consecutive game without forward Kyle Jan, who has a broken right hand. Forwards Amir Hatam and Joey Rosas did not score. The scoring burden rested on center Alvin Brown (22 points) and guard John Johnson (16).

Birmingham, which lost to Granada Hills in the City Section 3-A Division title game last season, graduated five starters and was counted out of the playoff picture after losing its first three games.

But the Braves (9-8, 5-3 in league play) have won four of their past five and are tied with Granada Hills (9-6, 5-3) for second in the league behind San Fernando (14-4, 8-0), which has clinched the title.

“What other people say about us is not a concern,” Turret said. “We’re in second and it feels good.”

Trailing by one point at the end of three quarters, the Braves scored six consecutive points to take control. Birmingham took a 68-61 lead on a layup by Brian Johnson with 4:41 left.

The Braves shot 46.4% (26 of 56) from the field, and Granada Hills made 28 of 73 (38.4%) shots and committed five fourth-quarter turnovers.

“We turned the ball over because of their defense,” Granada Hills Coach Bob Johnson said.