Gilbert High knows where its going in a couple of weeks. That's to the playoffs to try and defend its 5A boys basketball title. Casteel is not so fortunate.

No. 4 Gilbert was ready for Casteel's up-tempo, pressure style winning often in the transition game as the Tigers delivered a 92-61 thumping of the Colts at The Jungle.

Gilbert remained unbeaten in 5A San Tan Region play at 7-0 and extending its region record the past two seasons in the region to 17-0. Gilbert is 19-4 overall and 13-2 in power-ranking games.  Casteel (8-15, 3-4 region and 6-9 prg) likely needs to win out to qualify for a play-in game at the No. 24 position. The Colts were No. 25 in Friday's lastest  power rankings.

Both teams competed Friday without key starters - Gilbert missing Brycen Long and Casteel Caelan Russell. Both were among their teams top two scorers this season and Long a veteran of last year's title team.

So without Long, Gilbert picked up a bigger than normal night from one of its other starters from last year - Paul Maldonado. Maldonado piled up 25 points mixing in four threes, transition hoops and strong moves to the basket for his points.

Picking up for Long in a starting role and off the bench, respectively, were Taylor Baldwin (eight points) and Nikko Pentelute (15 points). Long was adept as a finisher for three of his baskets and Pentelute showed confidence in burying a three for his first basket and delivered from there on offense.

"The game Casteel plays is not ours," Gilbert coach Jay Caserio said. "Without Brycen we were focused on good ball handling and limiting turnovers. We had 13 turnovers for the game. Given the number of possessionst there were that wasn't a bad number.

"We were good in transition. For the most part we made good decisions when we had 3 on 2s and 2s on 1."

Gilbert made 34 field goals and at least 23 were layups. The Tigers led 17-8 after the first quarter, 45-27 at halftime and 75-52 after three periods. A running clock kicked in with six minutes to play. 

Additional double-figure scorers for Gilbert were guard Tampa Scott (18 points) and Griffin Lamb (10).

Casteel, which made mass substitutions to keep players fresh, was led in scoring by Devin Franks (20 points). The Colts have three games left -- all region games vs. Willams Field,  Maricopa and Campo Verde. They are chasing Flowing Wells and  Marana Mountain View  for the final two spots. Both of those schools lost on Friday night. Campo Verde is right behind Casteel at No. 26 and not out of the chase for postseason.