Lairson, Palmdale Sink Antelope Valley Again

Just as it had a week earlier, the Antelope Valley High basketball team crashed and burned at the free-throw line Friday night, falling to visiting Palmdale, 70-65, in a key Golden League game.

And similar to the first meeting against Antelope Valley, junior forward Al Lairson was the catalyst for the Falcons (10-6, 5-2 in league play), following his 20-point effort in last week’s overtime victory with a personal-best 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Lairson, who made his first start in place of injured standout Ty Gaines (ankle sprain), scored Palmdale’s final seven points as the Falcons rallied from a 64-61 deficit in the final two minutes.

“I don’t what it is, but I love playing against these guys,” Lairson said. “Ty being out got us all worried, but we knew we could run with them and outboard them.”

Palmdale, which committed 17 turnovers in the first half and trailed, 38-32, at halftime, outrebounded the Antelopes, 46-39.

Antelope Valley (10-5, 4-2), which converted only 10 of 29 free throws in the first meeting with Palmdale, sank 11 of 13 free throws in the first half but missed with the game on the line.

The Antelopes made only one of six free throws in the final 4 minutes 27 seconds, including the front end of four one-and-one situations.

Zach Curtis, Troy Coutee and Fred Gonzales each failed on the front end of a one and one in the final 35 seconds.

“Fortunately, they missed free throws the first time we played them and they missed some again tonight,” Palmdale Coach Garry Phelps said. “Somebody has been watching over us that way.”

Curtis and Coutee, the Antelopes’ leading scorers, finished a combined four of 22 from the field for two and nine points. Coutee did not score in the second half.

Guard John Sanders had 15 points and guard Derrick Barker added 13 for Antelope Valley.

Guard Mike Lauricella had 12 points and Rocque Sandoval added 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench for Palmdale.

“This was an enormous win,” Lairson said. “Now they’ve got to come down to our house to beat us (in the third round of league play), and I don’t think they can do it.”