The Williams Field Black Hawks used great defense and a fast-paced game to give them a 70-50 win over the Agua Fria Owls on Thursday.

"We play really good as a team,” said Williams Field's Montez Taylor. “Coach really helped us come together.”

"Our style of play is more up-tempo, more control, we want to keep the game kind of in the half-court a little bit,” said Black Hawks head coach JoVaughn McCoy.

The game started fast with both teams missing plenty of passes and opportunities to get to the basket. However, great defensive pressure gave the Black Hawks second chances to score, and an 18-5 lead over the Owls at the end of the first quarter.

Keeping the pace going in the second quarter, both teams scored 16 points. The Black Hawks' Kyle Landeryou sank an impressive 3-point shot at the buzzer which kept their 13-point lead over the Owls, 34-21.

The Owls started the second half aggressive and outscored the Black Hawks but only gained one point on their lead. The third quarter ended with a score of 49-37.

The Black Hawks kept up the pace up to start the fourth quarter and made a couple of easy uncontested layups. The Black Hawks increased their lead to 17 and finally slowed down the pace at the 4:15 mark.

The Owls continued to play aggressive but could not catch up. The time ran out on the Owls giving the win to the Black Hawks.

With hopes set on the playoffs, the Black Hawks' Kyle Landeryou said, “We're just trying to make things go right, play hard, play together and make the playoffs.”

With the win, the Williams Field Black Hawks improved to 11-12 and will face the 13-10 Campo Verde Coyotes on Friday night.