Palmdale Extends Streak to 9 : Basketball: Falcons beat Simi Valley, 60-57, to reach Hart semifinals.

Al Lairson scored 11 of his 19 points during a 23-6 third-quarter run that helped Palmdale High defeat Simi Valley, 60-57, Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the 22nd Hart Holiday Classic at Hart High.

Palmdale has won nine consecutive games since losing its first game of the season.

The Falcons (9-1) will play Hart (12-1), a 58-52 winner over West Bakersfield in another quarterfinal game, tonight in the semifinals at 8. Canyon and Manual Arts will play in the other semifinal scheduled at 6:30.

Palmdale has not lost since being defeated by Santa Clara, 67-66, on Nov. 30 when the Saints scored at the buzzer.

The Falcons took control shortly after halftime. The teams entered the locker rooms tied, 22-22, but the Pioneers (8-3) went cold in the third quarter.

Palmdale outscored Simi Valley, 26-10, in the quarter.

“It was a good defensive game in the first half, but we came out in the second half and were too quick for them,” said Lairson, who also had five steals. “We came out running and they couldn’t keep up with us.”

Led by Lairson and forward Maurice Wright (10 points), the Falcons forced the Pioneers into one turnover after another during the quarter. Palmdale took a 29-22 lead with 6 minutes 33 seconds to play in the third.

Palmdale’s lead grew to 41-28 with 3:20 left in the quarter and swelled to its biggest margin, 45-28, one minute later.

Vernon Simmons had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Nathan Simmons scored 19 points for the Pioneers, who made a futile run in the final minutes.

Hart 58, West Bakersfield 52-- Randy Roa had 22 points and Cody Patterson added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Indians (12-1).

Corey McHenry scored 16 points for the Vikings (4-6).

Canyon 59, Banning 54--Charles Woodard and Greg Minor scored 21 points apiece as the Cowboys (10-3) defeated the Pilots (7-7) in the quarterfinals.

Jason Pickett scored 21 points for Banning.

Manual Arts 69, Culver City 62--David Rickenbacker scored 26 points and Darwin Carter added 19 as the Toilers (10-2) advanced.

Dameon Williams scored 17 points for the Centaurs (6-6).