Photo:1 Uriah Tenette scored a game high 31 points
The Prescott Badgers used a big fourth quarter to break open a close game to win 90-76 over the pesky Mesquite Wildcats in the first round of the Division 4A playoffs.
Uriah Tenette once again led all scorers with 31 said, “We knew they were a good team and we got caught up for a while playing their game shooting threes. We knew we were going to get their best game. Once we got to playing our game, we were finally able to get a good lead on them and close it out”
Photo: 0 Cooper Magnett knocked down some key baskets in the win
The Badgers led the entire game, but Mesquite would get knocked down and get right back up. Prescott built a lead with the help of a pair of three point baskets by Cooper Magnett, and led 18-9, but the Wildcats kept knocking down three point shots, 14 in all to stay close.
Prescott led by nine, 27-18, after one quarter, but Mesquite led by senior Kobe Bradley drilled back to back threes and suddenly the Badgers lead was cut to four at 30-26.
Once again Prescott would get a run going to boost the lead up to eight, then it was trimmed down to four. The Badgers held a 48-43 lead at the half but the crowd was a bit restless,, especially when another pair of threes closed the gap to 64-60 at the end of the third quarter.
Another bucket made it far too close for the Badgers, whose lead was down to 64-62. That is when Tenette, Gaul, and Peoples put a string of plays and baskets together to outscore 12-2 to go on top 76-64 with three and half minutes left.
Mesquite was unable to climb out of that hole and Prescott will advance to the quarterfinal round.
Photo: 10 Zane Gaul at the free throw line, shot more free throws than the entire Mesquite team
Zane Gaul had his 20th double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds said, “We had a little scare in the first three quarters. Just were not playing our game, and we have to learn from that.”
Photo: 11 Josiah Peoples lifted Prescott with 16 points off the bench
Josiah Peoples was huge off the bench with 16 points said, “It was great to get back out there after missing our last game I felt great and I was able to grab some rebounds and score. It was a fun game to play in.”
Mesquite ends their season at (11-15). Wildcats coach Shawn Lynch said, “I thought our guys played hard and did a lot of good things. They just overwhelmed us in the fourth quarter. Uriah made spome really tough shots and they had other guys step up. I am though proud of the way our guys competed.”
The Badgers (21-6) will host ALA-Gilbert North in the second round on Friday night at 7 pm. It will be the second time this season the two teams have met. Prescott beat the Eagles 62-37 in December.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 90 , MESQUITE WILDCATS 76
MESQUITE (76)-Jorde 4 0-0 12, Bradley 8 0-0 23, Ward 6 0-0 14, Rogers 3 0-0 7, Richard 2 2-2 6, Raslavsky 4 2-2 10, Miller 2 0-0 4, Cotton 0 0-0 0. 29 4-4 76.
PRESCOTT (90)-Magnett 5 0-0 13, Tenette 12 5-6 31,
Vanderploeg 0 0-0 0, Gaul 8 8-9 24, Richardson 1 0-0 3, Fundalewicz 1 1-2 3, Peoples 6 3-5 16. 33 17-22 90.
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Mesquite 18 25 17 16 – 76
Prescott 27 19 18 26 – 90
Total Fouls- M 20, P 7
Fouled Out-None
Three Pointers –M(14)-Bradley 7, Jorde 4, Ward 2, Rogers 1. P (7)-Magnett 3, Tenette 2, Peoples 1, Richardson 1.
SCOREBOARD-4A DIVISION
Prescott 90, Mesquite 76
Sahuaro 62, Bradshaw Mountain 38
Dysart 62, Paradise Honors 46
Cactus Shadows 58, ALA-Queen Creek 54
Deer Valley 63, Cholla 52
St. Mary’s 70, Arcaida 49
Salpointe Catholic 51, Mica Mountain 40
ALA-Gilbert North 63, Saguaro 58
FRIDAYS QUARTEFINALS
#7 ALA-Gilbert North (20-7) at #2 Prescott (21-6)
#8 Dysart (22-5) at #1 Sahuaro (22-4)
#5 Cactus Shadows (19-7)at #4 Deer Valley (23-5)
#6 Salpointe Catholic (15-10) at #3 St. Mary’s (15-12)
