BOYS' BASKETBALL: Palmdale hangs with Fairfax

It was close for awhile but the Palmdale boys' basketball team couldn't hold up with City Section power Fairfax in a 61-48 first-round setback at the Santa Monica tournament.

Ryan Wright, a 6-foot-6 senior recruiting prospect, scored 14 points to lead the Falcons (0-1).

Tyler Evans added 10 points for Palmdale.

"It was just a great opportunity to play a team like that," Wright said. "We are unknown out in Palmdale, but it is nice to see that we got invited to play in this tournament because of our hard work."

Ronny Price scored 20 points and former Taft guard Landon Drew scored 17 points to lead Fairfax, which is one of several teams expected to contend for the City Section championship.

Fairfax extended modest 30-23 halftime lead to 15 points entering the fourth quarter to make things tough on the Falcons.

Fairfax shot an excellent 26 of 32 from the free throw line.