Beal’s Free Throw Sends Victor Valley to Victory

Trevor Beal’s free throw with 35 seconds remaining lifted Victor Valley to a 53-52 victory over Palos Verdes Peninsula in a Southern Section Division I-AA semifinal Tuesday night at Hesperia High.

Despite scoring only six points in the fourth quarter, the third-seeded Jackrabbits (27-2) held on for the victory when Peninsula’s Phil Belin missed a four-foot jump shot with two seconds remaining.

“We knew the play was going to be called for him,” Victory Valley Coach Kurt Herbst said of Belin. “But there was nothing we could do to stop it. Some higher force must have been with us. It’s been that kind of year.”

Victor Valley led, 47-40, entering the fourth quarter, but Peninsula (20-9) reeled off nine points in a row to take the lead with 4:30 remaining. Belin, a senior, finished with a game-high 17 points.

Dashmond Sylverster scored 11 points for Victor Valley, which will play Long Beach Jordan in the championship game Saturday night at The Pond of Anaheim. Beal finished with nine points and six assists.