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Superior Panthers
The No. 4-ranked Superior boys’ basketball team followed a disappointing home loss to Ft. Thomas on Dec. 2 with three-straight lopsided wins last week. The Panthers defeated Phoenix Day School for the Deaf (62 – 41), Bowie/San Simon (63 – 38) and North Phoenix Prep Academy (66 – 34) during a three-games-in-four-nights stretch from Dec. 6 – 9.
In last Tuesday’s win against the Roadrunners, senior Jalon Murray and Marcos Bueno each recorded double-doubles, which included Murray’s game-high 26 points and 16 rebounds. Bueno, a junior, finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Senior forward Austin Navarrette was nearly a third Panthers’ player to record a double-double after he totaled 8 points and 10 rebounds.
Murray (24 – 11) and Bueno (15 – 10) posted their second double-doubles in three games during the Panthers win last Friday against North Phoenix Prep. On the season, the duo is combining to average almost 35 points per game and more than 20 rebounds. Individually, Murray and Bueno average a double-double every time they hit the floor so far this season.
Not to be overlooked is the Panthers’ defense, which was stingy during the winning streak, where they allowed less than 38 points per game. During its five wins so far this season, Superior opponents are averaging a paltry 41 points per game.
Upcoming schedule: Dec. 13 at NFL Yet Academy, Dec. 15 vs. Globe and Dec. 16 at Ray. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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