By Don Ketchum

There’s nothing like a hot start to carry a basketball team to victory.

The boys from Cave Creek Cactus Shadows took care of matters early against Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain on Wednesday (Feb. 8), connecting for 10 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 75-36 triumph in the opening round of the Division II, Section II tournament at Phoenix Greenway.

Fifth-seeded Cactus Shadows (14-9) will see if the magic can carry over in a semifinal game on Friday night (Feb. 10) against top-seeded Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, which defeated Phoenix Thunderbird 64-35 later Wednesday.

As hot as the Falcons were in the first half, they didn’t make a 3-pointer in the second half, apparently not feeling the need to launch from long range.

“Running and shooting the 3 have always been our staples,’’ said Cactus Shadows coach Jamaal Scott. “Sometimes the long shots, sometimes not so good. We were very good this time. The thing we are is consistent with it (offensive approach). We give pretty much everybody the green light and that gives them confidence.’’

Bradshaw Mountain, the fourth seed, is a virtual opposite of Cactus Shadows in that it prefers to slow its offense down and be more deliberate.

“We watched the tape and decided that we needed to try to control it from the beginning and get out and run as much as we could,’’ Scott said.

Six different players made 3-pointers for Cactus Shadows. Mike Rabbini hit two in the first three minutes as the Falcons rolled up a 14-2 lead and forced Bradshaw Mountain coach Doug Beilfuss to call two early timeouts.

Other Falcons to find the net from behind the arc were Austin Horton, Justin Laine, Paul Magtibay, Connor Mayer and C.J. Davis.

Davis led Cactus Shadows with 14 points and Horton had 12.

Cactus Shadows led by 20 points at the half and continued to pull away thereafter. A portion of the fourth quarter was played with a running clock after the lead reached 30 points.

Mason Smith was Bradshaw Mountain’s top scorer with 13 points.