The statistics indicated to beat Mesquite boys basketball limiting or neutralizing top scorers Nate Calmese and Cohenj Gonzales would be a solid strategy. Brophy Prep did just that Monday in handing Mesquite a 68-41 loss on the opening day of the 14th annual Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge at Mountain View High School.

Brophy improved to 8-1 with the victory and Mesquite suffered only its third loss in 12 games to open the four-day tourney.

Brophy clamped down on Calmese (33 points a game entering the contest) and Gonzales (nearly 16 points an outing) from the get-go. Neither player scored in the first half while Brophy built a 39-12 advantage. Calmese got a couple baskets and two free throws in the second half to finish with six points. Gonzales did not score.

"We defended well as a group," Brophy coach Matt Hooten said. "It's hard to take away dynamic players. Our guys did a great job."

Offensively Brophy had everyone active and involved. The Broncos starters scored 37 of the 39 points in the first 16 minutes. All five tallied  between a low of three and a high of 10 in that span. Each one connected on a three-point field goal in the first half.

Senior forward Trey Phillips paced Brophy with 16 points, sophomore Braeden Speed added 12 and senior Patrick Chew chipped in 11. Phillips made 7of 9 shots, mostly from close range via fast breaks or putbacks. He also sank a three.

Brophy's Miles Nash (under basket) battles with a trio of Mesquite (blue) players in the Broncos victory. (Azpreps365 photo)

Next games for the teams in the tournament that continues through Thursday is Tuesday. Brophy faces  Regis Jesuit (CO) at 4 p.m. Mesquite takes on Mountain View at 7 p.m.