Photo: Uriah Tenette set a new Badgers scoring record with 54 points in the overtime win over Chatsworth
The Prescott Badgers continue to battle in the Gold Division of Damian Tournament in La Verne, California, against some of the top teams in the west. The Badgers have won two of three so far, and have a (5-2) record heading into the consolation final today versus the Redwood Giants. Redwood (5-4), has won two straight after their opening round loss to Campbell Hall.
The Tournament hosts 128 teams in eight divisions and will have 256 games in four days. Sunday is an off day so the tournament will wrap up today. Here is a recap of the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games.
A slow start by the Badgers in the opening round turned out to be a hole Prescott could not get out, resulting in a 71-56 loss to the Canyon Comanches (9-2), from Anaheim. The Badgers trailed 13-4 after one quarter and 39-21 at halftime. The second half saw the Prescott play better, but just could not overcome the 18 point deficit. Zane Gaul and Uriah Tenette each had 17 points. Gaul finished with 10 rebounds as well for a double-double. Canyon’s Brandon Benjamin led all scorers with 29 points.
The Comanches beat Inglewood (CA) 80-70, and Ironwood (AZ) 74-47, to reach the Gold Division championship and will face Crespi.
Day two was quite a day as Uriah Tenette set a new school record by scoring 54 points, eclipsing his 48 point performance last season in a wild 93-87 overtime win over the Chatsworth Chancellors.
Alijah Arenas, a junior, and son of former University of Arizona standout and NBA player Gilbert Arenas, actually two-upped Tenette by scoring 56. V’Elijah Miller had 11, and Tekeio Phillips added 10.
Prescott trailed 20-17 after one quarter, but came back to take a 40-36 lead at the half. The Badgers would hold a slim 62-61 after three quarters, but regulation would end with the game tied at 78.
The Badgers took control in OT, outscoring the Chancellors 15-9 to win 93-87. Zane Gaul finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Cooper Magnett scored 12.
Chatsworth dropped to (9-3) after their second consecutive loss in the tournament.
In their latest contest on Saturday versus the Rancho Cucamonga Cougars , the Badgers built a 43-31 halftime lead. The Cougars made a dent in that lead, but in the end it was too much for them to overcome as Prescott won 83-75.
The Badgers shot an impressive 54% from the floor and 52% from three point country, plus out rebounded the Cougars 33-26. Rancho Cucamonga fell to (11-6).
Tenette had a double-double by scoring 27 along with 12 rebounds. Gaul knocked down 10 of 11 from the floor to finish with 24 points and 9 rebounds. A huge lift came from a big 18 point performance by Josiah Peoples. Cooper Magnett added nine.
