BEVERLY HILLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Glendale Unable to Stem Rolling Hills Tide, 63-49

Despite three starting players shorter than 5-foot-11, Glendale High was able to neutralize Rolling Hills’ high-powered offense for a quarter Friday night.

Then Rolling Hills began to do just that--roll.

The taller Titans recovered from their slow start and knocked off Glendale, 63-49, in a championship semifinal game of the Beverly Hills tournament.

After being outscored, 12-8, in the first quarter, Rolling Hills (5-2) exploded for 28 second-quarter points--while limiting the Dynamiters (5-4) to seven--to put the game out of reach early.

“The game got out of our tempo in the second period, and when they made a few shots we started rushing,” Glendale Coach Bob Davidson said.

Dex Puno led Glendale with 17 points. Center Jason Harper contributed 12 and Ronny Apcar added 10.

Glendale will meet Buena, a 97-79 loser to Beverly Hills, in the third-place game at 7 tonight.

In other tournament games:

Rio Mesa 69, Santa Maria 62--In a consolation semifinal, forward Eric Thomas scored a career-high 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots for the Spartans.

Palisades 49, Saugus 35--Forward Aaron Volpe scored 13 points to pace Saugus (2-5), which limited Palisades to seven points in the fourth quarter but was never able to trim the second-half deficit to less than 10 points.