GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Palmdale Takes Charge in 4th Period

Palmdale High pulled away from Hesperia with a 7-2 run with less than six minutes remaining Wednesday night and went on to a 52-36 victory in a first-round girls’ basketball playoff game in the Southern Section 5-AA Division.

Hesperia (14-12) held favored Palmdale to only 15 points in the first half.

Palmdale (22-3), which had trouble with the Scorpion defense, turned the ball over 14 times and trailed, 19-15, at the half.

But the Falcons countered in the third quarter. All-Southern Section guard Karee Bonde hit a three-point basket to tie the score, 22-22, with 5:15 remaining in the quarter.

Palmdale’s Martanya Blair finished with a game-high 25 points.

Junior forward Kari Langelier scored 11 points to lead Hesperia. With 5:53 to play, Langelier hit a free throw to tie the score, 31-31.