Phoenix North boys basketball coach Joseph Bustos is pleased with how his team is playing at the moment, but he doesn’t want it to be a defining moment. There are a lot of games left on the schedule, and he believes his can continue to show improvement.

The Mustangs played a strong overall game on Wednesday (Jan. 2) in the opening round of the Phoenix Union High School District Holiday Classic, racing to a 68-47 victory over Tempe High at Laveen Betty H. Fairfax High.

North (10-5) will play a second-round game on Thursday (Jan. 3) at 8 p.m. against host Betty H. Fairfax or Phoenix Maryvale. Tempe (7-5) drops to the loser’s bracket and will meet the loser of the Betty H. Fairfax-Maryvale game at noon.

“We’ve had a few injuries and we’ve been up and down, but we are getting better,’’ Bustos said.

Playing in this tournament should allow Bustos to get more time for some of his younger players.

It seems the Mustangs are deeper, faster and more athletic than some North teams of recent years.

“We are trying to get the fast breaks, go to the bucket, but we also feel we have a good-shooting team,’’ Bustos said.

Senior guard Kuauhtleko Enrique led the way against Tempe with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

Felipe Corral scored 11 points for the Mustangs and Elijah Williams had 10.

Delano Jones topped Tempe with 14 points, including three 3-pointers.

Tempe showed flashes of promise for former Phoenix Trevor Browne and Phoenix Horizon coach Paul Long, but wasn’t as consistent as it could have been. The Buffaloes tried to force the ball a few too many times and did not take care of the ball as North came up with several steals.