Palmdale Turns It On in Overtime

Palmdale and Antelope Valley highs may be the two toughest teams in the Golden League, as Palmdale forward Ty Gaines attests, but for much of the Friday night showdown, they were almost certainly the two sloppiest.

But the teams regrouped in the fourth quarter, and host Palmdale won an exhilarating contest, 72-68, in overtime.

Antelope Valley’s Derrick Barker’s spinning bank shot with three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter tied the score, 63-63, but Palmdale (8-5, 4-1) scored on its first three possessions in overtime and the Antelopes (9-4, 4-1) couldn’t catch up.

The win left the rivals tied atop the league standings.

“This means everything to us,” said Gaines, who had 17 points and six rebounds. “We figured we had to win the A.V. game to win the Golden League, because we’re the two toughest teams. We knew everyone was giving A.V. the win before the game, but we proved we can beat them. This is exactly how it’s going to be the next time, only more intense.”

It would hard to be more ragged. Palmdale committed 28 turnovers and Antelope Valley missed 19 of 29 free throws.

Palmdale controlled the first quarter, thanks mainly to reserve Al Lairson’s 10 points, and led, 24-14.

From then on, the Antelopes’ frenetic, pressing defense, helped by the absence of Falcon point guard Mike Lauricello, who sat out much of the game with foul trouble, forced Palmdale into turnover after turnover and allowed Antelope Valley back into the contest.

They were tied, 42-42, after three quarters, then traded baskets in the fourth period with neither team leading by more than four points.

Gaines’ layup with 1:47 to play tied the score, 57-57, and he gave the Falcons a 61-59 lead on a tough six-foot bank shot with 1:15 to play.

Antelope Troy Coutee tied the score with a 10-foot fallaway jump shot, but Lairson, who had a game-high 20 points, answered with a jump shot of his own and Palmdale led, 63-61, with 46 seconds left. Then Barker sent the game into overtime, but the Antelopes’ last shot, an 18-footer by Coutee that would have tied the score, was no good with three seconds left in overtime.