Photo: 22 Josiah Peoples goes up for two of his game high 23
BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL
The Prescott Badgers opened up their 2023-24 home schedule with a 75-68 win over the Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions.
The 6A division Mountain Lions came in at (4-2), and matched up well with the Badgers, but in the end it was Prescott who came away with the win.
Josiah Peoples led all scorers with 23, but his start to the second half energized the Badgers to the lead after scoring just one point in the final four minutes of the second quarter and trailing by six at the break. “I just came out and did what I could do to help out team. We knew we could play better than we did in that first half. I’m excited about this season. We have played together for awhile now and we have good chemistry. It is going to be a fun year.”
Photo: 1 Uriah Tenette rises above his opponent to knock down a basket
Prescott forged a five point lead in the first quarter, despite a quiet quarter by Tenette. Peoples scored five, and Costa Contreras came off the bench to score four.
The Mountain Lions battled back with baskets by Dylan Donovan, Peyton Dennis, and Jaiden Thompson, combining for 14 of the 19 points in the quarter.
Badgers led 22-18 midway through the second quarter when they came upon a dry spell. The Lions went to work, effective moving the ball for open looks and capitalizing on the poor Prescott shooting, outscoring the Badgers 11-1 to build a 29-23 lead at the half.
The deficit did not last long into the third quarter when Josiah Peoples took control the first minute, scoring a pair baskets off the glass, and drilling a three pointer giving Prescott a 30-29 lead.
Photo: 2 Coley Fundalewicz splits the defenders on his way to the hoop
The game would go back and forth with the teams tied at 43 to start the final quarter. Both teams got hot and lit up the basket for a combined 57 points, but it was the Badgers, led by Peoples, Gaul, and Tenette sinking all seven free throws down the stretch that made the difference.
Tenette said, “We didn’t play that great tonight. We had a much better second half, but we know we can do better, and need to play a more consistent game.”
Badger coach Travis Stedman said, “Well considering we started two players who had not played in a varsity game, I was pleased. Right now we are missing Cooper Magnett, but this gives some good playing time to some of our other players, which will only make us stronger as the season progresses.”
Prescott (4-1) will travel to Phoenix on Monday to take on the Cortez Colts (3-3) at 7pm. The Badgers return home on Wednesday to face Marcos de Niza.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 75, MOUNTAIN RIDGE LIONS 68
Mountain Ridge (68)-Sauva 6 1-1 16, Dennis 5 0-0 12, Thevar 3 0-2 9, Donovan 3 0-1 6, Muller 1 0-0 2, Thompson 5 3-3 14, Dudley 0 0-0 0, Cockrell 0 1-2 1, Reynoir-Thompson 0 0-0 0, Smith 2 0-0 4, Totherow 1 0-0 3. 26 5-9 68.
Prescott (75)-Tenette 6 8-8 20, Fundalewicz 1 1-2 4, Gaul 7 0-0 14, Lyon 0 4-4 4, Peoples 9 2-3 23, Contreras 3 1-2 7, Bernardo 1 0-0 3, Tobin 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, Diener 0 0-0 0. 27 16-19 75.
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Mountain Ridge 10 19 14 25 – 68
Prescott 15 8 20 32 – 75
Total Fouls-MR 18, P 10
Fouled Out-Smith
Three Pointers-MR 11, P5
SCOREBOARD
Bradshaw Mountain 49, Greenway 42
Coconino 56, Seton Catholic Prep 47
Mesquite 60, Flagstaff 36
VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Badgers dominated the Tempe Buffaloes in the valley, beating the home team 82-15. The Lady Badgers were led by sophomore Addie Prisciandaro who knocked down seven three point baskets, leading all scorers with 33 points. Junior Rayne Libis added 13 points and 4 assists. Rylee Hobson nabbed seven steals and scored 12 points. Freshman Lilly James stepped up also with 12 points. At the free throw line, the Lady Badgers shot a very good 80 percent. Prescott is back at it tonight in The Dome at 7pm.
