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Queen Creek’s Frigny Niclasse’s layup is blocked by a Mountain Lions’ defender. Kelli Luberda | Ledger
The Bulldogs’ Kade Parks (15) launches a three-pointer. Kelli Luberda | Ledger
Queen Creek’s Kade Parks (15) goes up for the opening tip against Marana Mountain View. Kelli Luberda | Ledger
Southeast Valley Ledger
The Queen Creek boys’ basketball team finally played its home opener last Tuesday, hosting Marana Mountain View, which entered the game with a 5 – 1 record.
The Bulldogs, who had won consecutive games after losing four straight in a season-opening holiday tournament, extended their winning streak to three games after a decisive 59 – 32 victory against the Mountain Lions.
“Being at home where we are comfortable and having the all the fans behind us gives our guys that extra bit of juice,” Bulldogs’ head coach Troy Gibson said after the game. “We know that in order to have a chance at making the playoffs in Division II you have to win at home.”
After allowing an average of 74 points per game during their four-game losing streak, the Bulldogs have allowed less than 40 points per game in their three wins since. The defense held Mountain View to seven points or less in three of the four quarters in the home-opening win.
“Our philosophy has always been that we will play solid team defense and we will rebound the ball,” Gibson told the Ledger. “Team defense has to be a constant because offense is the variable; some nights you shoot the ball really well and other nights not so much, but you can always defend.”
The Bulldogs dominated in all three areas – offense, defense, and rebounding – against the Mountain Lions, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field, 90 percent from the free-throw line, limiting their third-straight opponent to fewer than 40 points, and grabbing 34 rebounds.
Junior Kade Parks was one of three Bulldogs to finish in double-figures scoring with a team-high 13 points. Senior Bradley Woods and junior Mike Young added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Woods also pulled down six rebounds while Young and senior Tyler Bloom had five and four, respectively.
Senior point guard Frigny Niclasse contributed with three steals and eight points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Malik Cobbins, a senior, had a team-high nine rebounds in the win.
Queen Creek doubled-up Mountain View during the first quarter 14 – 7 before Cobbins drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to extend the lead to 17 – 7.
The Bulldogs doubled-up the Mountain Lions again in the second quarter, ending the first half with a 35 – 14 lead.
Mountain View outscored Queen Creek 13 – 8 in the third quarter, the only period of the game the Mountain Lions totaled more than seven points. But the Bulldogs controlled the second half overall, allowing only five points in the game’s final quarter.
Gibson said after the victory that he likes to play a difficult early-season schedule so his team’s weaknesses are exposed, giving him, his staff, and the players a chance to make any necessary tweaks before power-point games begin. He acknowledged his team did just that since the Thanksgiving tournament and so far it appears those changes are working to perfection.
“It’s a long season and we will continue to make adjustments and work as hard as we can on what we do so that we can be the best team we can possibly be.”
Now it’s up to other teams to adjust to the Bulldogs, who are more comfortable and playing with a great deal of confidence.
Upcoming schedule: Dec. 17 vs. Seton Catholic. Tipoff is 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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