HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL DIVISION I STATE REGIONAL PLAYOFFS : Palmer Leads Santa Barbara, 57-56

After struggling for three quarters Thursday, Dave Palmer of Santa Barbara High scored eight points in the fourth--including a basket with six seconds remaining to give the Dons a 57-56 victory over Long Beach Jordan in a Southern Regional State Division I semifinal boys’ basketball game at Long Beach City College.

Palmer, a 6-foot-7 senior who averaged 14 points per game during the season, was held to two points before scoring eight of Santa Barbara’s final 15. The Dons (28-5), the Southern Section Division I-A champions, will play City 3-A champion Fremont, which defeated Poway, in the finals Saturday. That game will be at 9 p.m. at the Sports Arena.

Jordan, which led by as many as 13 points early in the fourth quarter, could not stop Palmer and Alexy Dvortcsak, who scored 18 points--including 10 in the fourth quarter--down the stretch.

“I was having a bad game up to the fourth quarter,” said Palmer, who finished with 10 points. “On the last play, nothing was set up and I just took it upon myself.”

Palmer’s winning basket offset an outstanding performance from Jordan’s Darryl Bryant, who scored 25 points. Bryant, who averaged 12 points during the season, scored 22 of Jordan’s first 38 points.

However, Bryant could not stop Jordan from losing its late-game lead, something that has plagued the Southern Section Division I-AA champions all season. Jordan was outscored in the game’s final six minutes, 18-8.

“We just let down on both ends in the fourth quarter,” Bryant said. “We started taking shots we shouldn’t have been taking at the end.”

Jordan (23-8) took a 14-7 first-quarter lead, thanks to five Santa Barbara turnovers and nine points by Bryant. Santa Barbara rallied in the second quarter, with Dvortcsak making two three-point baskets, to close within 25-23 at halftime.

“I was a nervous at the beginning because they intimidated us a little at first,” Palmer said. “I had to settle down and play with confidence because in my heart I knew we’d win.”