Palisades defeats Venice on buzzer beater that should not have counted

Venice and Palisades engaged in a back-and-forth overtime thriller on Wednesday in a Western League basketball game that had City Section Open Division implications.

Venice held a three-point lead in the final seconds of overtime. Palisades’ Bowdoin Brazell tied it with a three. Venice’s inbound pass was intercepted by Palisades’ Avery Lee, who made a shot inside the half-court line as the buzzer sounded for a 55-52 Palisades victory. Video of the shot indicates it wasn’t released before the buzzer sounded, but the officials counted it.

“It was a bad call. It happens,� Venice coach Dave Galley said.

Venice (9-1) lost for the first time in league play. Palisades’ win probably clinches an Open Division playoff berth for the Dolphins. Venice will play Fairfax (8-0) on Friday at Fairfax to decide the league championship.

Brazell finished with 18 points for Palisades (10-8, 7-4), which also owns wins over Birmingham and Westchester this season. Tyler Hunt scored 20 points for Venice.

El Camino Real 57, Granada Hills 54: The Royals finished in a three-way tie for first place in the West Valley League with the victory. Ashton Eckert scored 22 points for Granada Hills. Cody Dukhovny had 16 points for ECR.