BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: PALMDALE HOLDS OFF LEUZINGER 82-76.

Byline: Daily News

Two key defensive sequences in the last 1 minute, 43 seconds lifted Palmdale (13-13) past visiting Leuzinger (14-13) 82-76 in a Division I-AA wild-card boys' basketball game Wednesday.

Erick Brown led the Falcons with 25 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Johnathan Thompson added 19 to send the Falcons into Friday's matchup with top-seeded Lakewood-Artesia.

Palmdale took control of a seesaw game with a 16-6 run. Leading just 73-69, the Falcons forced a shot-clock violation. On Leuzinger's next possession, Travis Morse took a charge on Kelton McCampbell's drive, one of four player-control fouls drawn by Palmdale.

``A lot of times players aren't willing to make a personal sacrifice on their bodies and take a charge,'' Falcons coach Garry Phelps said. ``It's something the fans in the stands won't notice, but we played some great defense.''

Leuzinger coach Keith Norman got a technical foul protesting the call with 54 seconds left. It turned out to be a five-point play for Palmdale after three throws and a tip-in by Jamal Jordan to make it 78-69.

- Chris Cocoles

Holy Martyrs 51, Flintridge Prep 40: The Rebels came into the wild-card playoff matchup on a high note, having knocked off Rio Hondo in the final game of the regular season to take third place in the Prep League and advance. The momentum continued as Flintridge Prep battled with a superior Holy Martyrs team for two quarters, trailing by just one at the half.

But the Rebels (7-17) folded in the third quarter - they were outscored 21-14 in the period - in a Southern Section Division V-AA wild-card loss to the visiting Armens (17-7). Charles Winters and Brain Strand led Flintridge with 10 points apiece and Ben Kroop contributed on the defensive end with three blocks and six rebounds.

``Everyone's a little disappointed, but when you have five sophomores and three juniors, jitters can set in and it showed,'' Flintridge coach Alex Rivera said. ``We came out and didn't hit shots, missed free throws and just didn't click in the second half.''

Antelope Valley Christian 72, Lake Arrowhead Christian 46: Matthew Nurse had 29 points, nine steals and eight assists to lead host Antelope Valley Christian to a Southern Section Division V-A playoff win. The Eagles advance to play Friday against the winner of the Southwestern Academy-Tarbut V'Torah game.

Peter Baudin added 17 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and five blocks and Jamal Flanigan had 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine steals for the Eagles, who had 30 steals in the game.

Santa Clarita Chr. 79, First Lutheran 64: Andrew Duncan scored 20 of his 34 points in the first half to lead the host Cardinals to a first-round win in the Southern Section Division V-A playoffs.

Mike Brewer added 24 points and seven rebounds for Santa Clarita (18-6), which trailed in the first quarter before posting 26 second-quarter points to go up for good. Duncan also had nine rebounds and four steals while hitting 13 of 15 foul shots.

Chad Durio and Robert Johnson each scored 16 for the Falcons, who dropped to 9-12.

Campbell Hall 83, St. Margaret's 48: Jesse Foster posted a triple-double as he stole the show with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a Division V-AA wild-card playoff win.

Hassan Bassiria added 19 points and 11 assists for Campbell Hall (18-8), which advances to Friday's first round.

Oak Park 52, Salesian 34: Zach Smith posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds while Eric Carver added 12 points and eight rebounds to lead the Eagles to a Division IV-A wild-card win. Oak Park (11-13) advances to the first round against Laguna Beach on Friday.

Windward 69, Boron 54: Peter Leeb scored 23 points and John Page added 16, catapulting the Wildcats to the Division V-AA wild-card win. Ryan Liebengood scored 19 points for the Bobcats (11-11).