Dotson Plays Heavy Role in Weighty 59-54 Win

WOODLAND HILLS —  El Camino Real High center Eric Dotson faced a daunting task in matching up against Chatsworth’s Eddie Miller.

At 6 feet 5, Dotson gave up only three inches to Miller, an All-City Section center last year. But at 165 pounds, the senior was some 60 pounds shy of the Chatsworth center.

“I was getting pushed around a little,” Dotson said. “I am kind of skinny.”

Midway through the fourth quarter of Friday night’s Northwest Valley Conference game at El Camino Real, Dotson’s numbers--one point and four fouls--reflected his struggle.

But Dotson became the unlikely hero for the Conquistadores, coming through with two offensive rebounds he promptly converted into baskets in the fourth quarter to put El Camino Real ahead for good. The Conquistadores (12-5, 2-0 in conference play) held on for a 59-54 victory, handing Chatsworth (4-8, 1-1) its first conference loss in two years.

Dotson scored with a little more than three minutes remaining to give the Conquistadores a 46-45 lead. On the next trip down the floor, Dotson rebounded a missed free throw by Kareem Green and scored for a three-point lead.

Dotson finished with five points and six rebounds and also helped hold Miller to one of his worst games of the season.

Miller had 13 rebounds but was held to 11 points, none in the first half, and made only two of 14 shots.

Miller’s confidence was so shaken by the third quarter, he looked to the Chatsworth bench twice before shooting a wide-open three-point basket, the only one he made in five attempts.

Miller’s three-pointer started the best stretch of the game for the Chancellors. Chatsworth took advantage of eight El Camino Real turnovers in the quarter to build a 40-34 lead, capped by a fast-break dunk by Miller with less than a minute remaining in the quarter.

“I don’t know what happened after that,” said Chatsworth guard Jerome Joseph, who scored 25 points. “I thought we were up, then all of a sudden we were down, just like that.”

El Camino Real worked its way back into the game behind forward Cameron Henderson, the Conquistadores’ leading scorer.

The 6-5 senior grabbed 17 rebounds, including 11 offensive, and finished with 23 points, eight in the fourth quarter. Sixteen of his points came off offensive rebounds.