HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Price 92, Antelope Valley Christian 54--The defending state champion Knights won their third consecutive Southern Section title with the victory in the V-A championship game at the Pyramid.

Antelope Valley Christian handled Price’s press in the first half and trailed, 39-26, at halftime. But Antelope Valley Christian committed 15 turnovers and was outscored by 30 points in the third quarter.

That was exactly what Price Coach Michael Lynch hoped would happen as a result of his halftime talk.

“We put the match under the fire,” said Lynch, whose team led by 45 twice. “[I] just encouraged the guys that they must play harder.”

Price (29-3) outscored Antelope Valley Christian, 15-0, to start the second half.

After an Antelope Valley basket, the Knights scored the next 12 points for a 66-28 lead. They were ahead, 76-33, at the end of the third quarter.

With the press creating easy scoring opportunities, the Knights made 17 of 21 shots in the quarter.

Senior guard Andrew Howard of Price said his team has had even better quarters defensively.

“We’ve played quarters where we haven’t let the other team get off a shot,” said Howard, who scored seven of his 12 points in the third quarter.

Christopher Alexander had 24 points and Jermaine Jamerson added 10 for Price.