North Hollywood Gets Early Break After Quiet Loss : High school basketball: Huskies, spent from previous day’s futile rally, fail to muster another late charge and fall out of tournament, 71-49.

LAS VEGAS —  North Hollywood High made an unceremonious exit from the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic on Wednesday with a 71-49 loss to Norland High of Miami--its second loss in two tournament games.

Just as they did the previous day, the Huskies fell behind early. But unlike their one-point loss to Payson (Utah), they failed to mount a serious comeback against the Vikings.

“I think we left everything on the floor in the first game,” North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller said. “Our kids were a step slow.”

North Hollywood never led, and trailed, 28-15, at intermission.

Using a full-court press, the Huskies scored the first six points of the second half on a 10-2 run.

But after North Hollywood trimmed the deficit to 30-25, Norland went on a 9-2 streak of its own to stretch the lead back to double figures. The Huskies got no closer than seven after that.

Damon Ollie, North Hollywood’s second-leading scorer with eight points, said Tuesday’s disheartening loss, after making up a 15-point deficit late in the second half, took its toll.

“I think everybody was still sobbing over our loss Tuesday,” he said. “Maybe we didn’t have anything left. We thought we could come back again and we made a move at the start of the second half. But after that, it seemed like everybody just gave up.”

With North Hollywood behind, 39-29, midway through the second half, Ollie tipped in a missed free throw. After a Norland basket, Arthur Lee made a three-point basket to cut the Viking lead to 41-34.

But Norland (9-2) converted three-point plays on its next two possessions while the Huskies managed only two free throws.

North Hollywood was still within striking distance, trailing, 47-36, when Terry Smith-Harris was called for a flagrant foul. Norland made one of the two free throws and scored on the ensuing possession to start a 9-0 run that took away any North Hollywood comeback hopes.

Lee led North Hollywood (6-4) with 19 points.