Hot-shooting Gilbert Higley made nine 3-pointers, many at opportune times, and pulled away for a 63-46 win over the Maricopa High School boys’ basketball team at the MHS Gym Friday night.
The Rams, who played the first quarter without their top two scorers, Marcus Lowe and DeVaughn Elledge, held their own against the 10-5 Knights, trailing just 17-13 at the first period break.
Nik Webber hit three straight baseline jumpers to help keep MHS close.
But when Lowe and Elledge entered the game in the second quarter, the Rams’ offense went south.
“When we made some substitutions in the second quarter the shots went up much quicker,” said head coach Andy Branchik who pointed out that his team was more patient in the first eight minutes.
“We put the ball back in their hands and they were hitting their jumpers and that’s how the lead expanded.”
Higley outscored Maricopa 13-4 in the second period to hold a 30-17 margin at halftime. The second quarter opened with the Knights quickly building their lead to 23-13, holding the Rams off the scoreboard until the 4:21 mark.
“That first quarter team played excellent,” Branchik said. “We’ve just got to understand that it’s not a hot potato, you don’t have to get it out of your hands, and when you make that extra pass it’s really about setting your teammates up.”
MHS stayed within striking distance most of the second half, but Higley 3-pointers helped keep Maricopa at bay. Daniel Groshong, Tanner Lee and Kyle Gomez each hit from long range in the third quarter, but still the Rams managed to close to within nine, 46-37, with 5:57 to go when Lowe made two free throws.
Gomez, who had a game-high 26 points, canned three of his five 3-pointers down the stretch, as the Knights pulled away in the final minutes.Lowe topped Maricopa’s scoring with nine points, while Stephen Kogutkiewicz had seven and Elledge and Webber added six each.
The loss was Maricopa’s sixth in its last seven games and dropped the Rams to 9-13. Things don’t get any easier next week as MHS visits strong Horizon Honors Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and then hosts them Thursday at 6 p.m. They then entertain powerful Desert Vista Friday at 7 p.m.
Things went better for MHS’ two younger teams Friday. The JV scored the game’s final 11 points to take a 53-42 victory over Higley, while the freshmen pulled out a 40-39 win over the Knights.
