By Don Ketchum

A tough early season schedule has benefited the girls’ basketball team from Tempe McClintock.

Losses to Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Phoenix Desert Vista, Phoenix Mountain Pointe and Mesa Mountain View toughened up the Chargers, gave them resolve.

Those traits were a big factor for McClintock against host Phoenix Christian in the second quarter of Thursday night’s (Dec. 29) championship game of the Phoenix Christian Holiday Tournament.

McClintock scored the first 10 points of the period and continued to pull away, taking a 63-34 victory.

“We settled for too many jump shots early when we had a size advantage inside,’’ said McClintock coach Andrew Pezzuto.

The Chargers (9-6) had a 31-18 lead at the half, but Pezzuto told his players to forget it and start playing the way they are capable. They started getting the ball inside to post player Alissa Battiest and she went to work, scoring 14 of her 20 points after the break.

Guard Marquel Angel also played well, evenly dividing her 18 points in each half.

McClintock also relied on solid defense to shut down Phoenix Christian (9-3).

“We work a lot on defense. We stress that,’’ Pezzuto said. “We like to play man (to-man) most of the game if we can.’’

Phoenix Christian also didn’t help itself at the free-throw line. The Cougars were just 1 of 7 in the second quarter and finished 9 of 28 for the game.

Dinah Watson was the lone double-figure scorer for the Cougars, with 15 points.