Crunch time in Monday night's battle between 6A Corona del Sol and 5A Gilbert wasn't decided so much by the physical part of the game as it was the mental portion.

"The second half and through the middle of the fourth quarter was as good a quarter or stretch as we've played in some time," Corona del Sol coach Neil MacDonald said. "We lost our composure the last three and half minutes and that was the game. They took advantage."

A 17-7 Gilbert run in the span MacDonald described indeed was the Aztecs downfall as the host Tigers came away 62-53 victors at Tiger Gymnasium. Gilbert (9-2) has won nine of its last 10 games and its previous outing last Friday was on the road at 5A No. 1 Ironwood, who the Tigers knocked off.

Gilbert produced balance on the offensive end, led by junior guard Nikko Pentelute's 19 points. Pentelute made several nice plays on both ends during the Tigers' game-clinching stretch.  Three teamates scored in double figures - sophomore KJ Perry (11 points) and junior guard Elijah Johnson and senior wing Carter Korab with 10 points apiece. Corona del Sol's Elijah McDaniel tied for game-high honors with 19 points, 13 in the second half. The Aztecs Brandon Lee finished with 13 points.

Corona del Sol (3-7) had gradually worked its way back from a 12-3 deficit early in the second quarter to lead a good part of the third period and it seesawed for the lead with Gilbert the first four minutes of the final quarter. Brandon Lee , who scored nine points in the first half all from three-point range, drove the lane hard and scored with 3:54 to go for the fifth of six lead changes in the period to give Corona its final lead (46-45).

Less than a minute later Gilbert was back up 49-46 thanks to the second of two fourth-quarter threes by Johnson and free throw by Korab. The Aztecs had possession at the point, but a steal by Pentelute didn't please Corona's Roberto Yellowman, who was issued a technical foul for voicing his displeasure at a lack of a foul call. Pentelute made the technical free throws with three minutes left and followed it up with short jumper with 2:36 to play putting Gilbert up, 53-46. A three-point play by Trey Hollis and two more Pentelute free throws put the Aztecs in a 58-47 hole with a minute left.

"I was proud of the way we fought back after the first quarter," MacDonald said. "I really thought we had a chance to pull this one out."

Gilbert coach Jay Caserio, pleased with the finish, wasn't so much about the overall product.

"Corona's guard play hurt us," Caserio said. "They can wiggle to get through the lane and hit some threes. Our guys didn't seem ready. They made us pay in some of the middle stretches tonight."

Gilbert is on the road Tuesday to face Apollo and then has a week off. Corona del Sol plays again Tuesday at Mesa Mountain View, the second of six consecutive road games that takes the Aztecs through the end of February.

 

 

 

Corona del Sol (3-6) vs. Gilbert  (8-2)