Photo: Uriah Tenette is challenged inside
Varsity Boys Basketball
Uriah Tenette scored 39 points to lead the Prescott Badgers to a 67-63 win over the Coconino Panthers for their eight straight win. The Panthers made it very a competitive contest by knocking down a dozen three point shots as they threatened to give Prescott their first region defeat of the season.
The Badgers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Coconino began their long range baskets shortly after, staying close. Prescott led until a minute into the second quarter when Oryon Huayhualla hit a three to tie the game at 17.
The Panthers first lead 22-19, coming on one of six three point baskets by Michael Minter. It became a back and forth game from there.
Trailing 31-29, Tenette scored a pair of baskets in the final seconds to give the Badgers a 33-31 halftime lead.
Photo: Zane Gaul goes up against Oryon Huayhualla
Tenette got the crowd fired up to start the second half with a steal and slam to lead 37-33. The Panthers came right back to lead with a pair of baskets for 38-37 advantage. Zane Gaul knocked down back to back buckets for a 41-38 Badger lead, the second coming on a steal and assist by Cooper Magnett.
Coconino took advantage of a pair of short misses by the Badgers, coming back to take a 47-45 lead. Andrew Lyon got inside for his only basket of the game to tie the score at 47. Coconino used the end of the quarter wisely, running down the clock as Minter drilled a three at the buzzer for a 50-47 Panther lead heading the fourth quarter.
A key moment took place just twelve seconds into the fourth when power forward Michael Chukwujigha picked up his fourth foul going over Gaul’s back, sending him to the bench briefly. The Panthers led 52-47 when Tenette went back to work. A pair of steals and scores plus one on the Coconino fouls assisted Prescott in tying the game at 55.
Photo: Josiah Peoples shoots over Gavin Greene
The Panthers surged ahead again, scoring a pair of baskets to go up 59-55 with three minutes to play. Chukwujigha soon fouled out, ending his night and opening up some more space in the lane. Trailing 59-56, Josiah Peoples, back for the first time since December 13, made a huge block as JT Begay drove to the basket. Gaul scored to cut the deficit to 59-58. Gaul eventually tied the score at 62 on a pair of free throws with under a minute to play. Peoples said, “I got back on defense and knew he was coming to the basket. I picked the right time to go up and got a piece of the ball. It felt real good to be back out on the court.”
Tenette knocked down a fade away jump shot for a 64-62 lead. Then he followed that up with a pair of free throws for a 66-62 lead. Each team would make one final free throw as Coconino who were so good throughout the game on three point shots could not get one to fall in the last minute.
Tenette, who remains the leading scorer in state, said, “They battled hard with us. We knew it was going to be a dog fight. They came to play and shot the ball really good tonight, and that made us work harder to get past them.”
Gaul said, “I didn’t really bring it tonight. I feel I could have done better against their big guy, but I closed out the game strong. Tonight gave us challenges that can only help you in games ahead. We have a tough game at Bradshaw and we know they will be ready to give us all we can handle.” Gaul finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Coach Travis Stedman said, “They (Coconino) played a good game tonight and gave us a battle. We did not defend the three point shot well at all tonight, and they were making them. When we played them up there, they were missing those shots. Tonight they were on. We have Bradshaw on Thursday and they will have their students packed in there. It should be another good one. ”
Prescott (7-0) in the GCR and (17-3) overall, will make the short trip to Prescott Valley to face the Bradshaw Mountain Bears (6-2), (15-6), in the second edition of the rivalry game tonight at 7 pm.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 67, COCONINO PANTHERS 63
COCONINO (63)-Begay 2 0-0 5, Nelson 2 3-4 7, Minter 6 0-0 18, Huayhualla 9 1-1 23, Chukwujigha 4 0-0 8, Mortensen 0 2-2 2, Barela 0 0-0 0, Greene 1 0-0 3. 23 6-7 63.
PRESCOTT (67)-Magnett 1 1-2 3, Tenette 13 12-14 39, Fundalewicz 1 0-0 2, Diener 0 0-0 0, Gaul 5 3-5 13, Contreras 0 0-0 0, Schuster 1 0-0 2, Peoples 3 0-0 6, Bernardo 0 0-0 0, Lyon 1 0-0 2. 25 16-21 67.
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Coconino 14 17 19 13 – 63
Prescott 15 18 14 20 – 67
Total Fouls-C 19, P 14
Fouled Out-Chukwvigha
Three Point Baskets-C (12)-Minder 6, Hauymulke 4, Mortensen 1, Greene 1. P(1)-Tenette 1
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
PRESCOTT 7-0 17-3
Flagstaff 5-0 10-11
Bradshaw Mountain 6-2 15-6
Coconino 5-4 10-12
Lee Williams 2-5 9-9
Mingus 1-8 8-14
Mohave 1-8 4-14
SCOREBOARD
Cactus 61, Peoria 48
Camp Verde 66, Scottsdale Christian 61
Combs 65, Eastmark 56
Cortez 74, Vista Grande 54
Deer Valley 74, Estrella Foothills 48
Dysart 89, Tempe 52
Moon Valley 57, Greenway 41
Prescott 67, Coconino 63
Saguaro 59, Seton Catholic Prep 43
St. Mary’s 75, Mesquite 73
Thunderbird 54, Shadow Mountain 47
Trinity Christian 65, Caurus Academy 28
Winslow 68, Payson 67
Varsity Girls Basketball
The Prescott Lady Badgers came up short in a 59-55 loss to the Coconino Panthers, in Flagstaff. The loss snapped a six game win streak by the Lady Badgers.
Coconino was led by Aviana Scharfenberger with 20 points and seven rebounds. Autumn Larsen added 14.
Prescott (5-2) in the Grand canyon Region, (13-8) overall, will host rival Bradshaw Mountain tonight at 7 pm.
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Flagstaff 7-0 17-4
PRESCOTT 5-2 13-8
Mingus 6-3 17-4
Coconino 5-3 11-11
Bradshaw Mountain 4-3 7-12
Lee Williams 1-9 5-14
Mohave 0-8 7-14
SCOREBOARD
Arcadia 54, Marcos de Niza 26
Camp Verde 60, Scottsdale Christian 32
Coconino 59, Prescott 55
Combs 63, Cortez 44
Coronado 46, Apache Junction 23
Estrella Foothills 67, Deer Valley 29
Dysart 75, Tempe 11
Greenway 57, Moon Valley 19
Mesquite 64 St. Mary’s 42
Mingus 61, Lee Williams 25
Paradise Honors 59, Yuma 20
Peoria 70, Cactus 10
Sewton Catholic Prep 60, Saguaro 45
Trinity Christian 46, James Madison Prep 27
Winslow 45, Payson 36
