Palmdale Home Free on Shots by Martin

PALMDALE —  The weight of the game, not to mention a 19-game Golden League winning streak, rested squarely Friday night on the shoulders of Palmdale High’s Shad Martin.

Martin, a senior guard, stood at the foul line with a one-and-one opportunity. His team trailed host Highland by a point with two seconds to play.

Did he flinch?

Hardly.

Martin made both free throws to give the Falcons a 67-66 victory in a Golden League opener.

“There wasn’t any other person I’d rather have on the line than Shad Martin,” Palmdale Coach Garry Phelps said.

“He’s such a competitor, there’s no way those two free throws were not going in.”

Martin swished the first foul shot.

“The first one is always the hardest,” he said. “My nerves were calm enough for the second one.”

The second shot hit the front of the rim, bounced against the backboard and fell through the basket to give the defending champion Falcons (10-5) their 20th consecutive league victory.

Highland (10-4) took a four-point lead with 29 seconds remaining on Carl Biel’s free throw.

But Palmdale guard Mike Hamelin hit a three-point shot seconds later to trim the deficit to 66-65.

Palmdale fouled Biel (14 points, six assists) on the ensuing possession, but the senior guard missed the front end of a one and one with 18 seconds to play.

Palmdale rebounded the ball and worked it to Martin, who missed a shot from the left corner. The rebound went out of bounds off a Highland player with three seconds left.

Martin took the inbounds pass and was tripped while being closely guarded by Jason Carr.

The free throws gave Martin 10 points. Teammate Steve Eernisse had 18.

Jamal Dedeaux had 21 points and seven rebounds for Highland.