Phoenix Paradise Valley stepped up its defense and used a “touchdown pass’’ from quarterback Ryan Finley to outlast visiting Phoenix Sunnyslope 59-52 in double overtime in a Division II boys basketball game on Tuesday night (Jan. 8).

Paradise Valley (14-3), No. 1 on the power seedings list entering this week, got 20 points from Finley and 17 from Paul Watson. Sunnyslope (16-3), No. 7 in power seedings, had three men in double figures – Isaiah Cota and Michael Humphrey (both 14) and Navareio Holmes (11).

Paradise Valley was inconsistent at both ends of the floor through most of regulation time.

In the second overtime, the Trojans forced Sunnyslope to rush things more than it wanted on its passes and shots. PV gained control of the ball with the missed shots and Sunnyslope was forced to foul.

The Trojans scored seven points (out of 10 attempts) from the foul line in the overtime. The lone basket was a jam by Watson, who got behind the Sunnyslope defense and caught the long inbounds pass from Finley, who is headed to Boise State to play quarterback.

“I think we made them rush their offense, they finally missed a few shots and we got some rebounds,’’ said PV coach Mark MacGowan.

“Both teams played well. It was one of those games where you hate to see either team lose. I respect coach (Ray) Portelo over there.’’

It won’t be long before Sunnyslope has a chance to atone for this setback. The Vikings play host to PV on Friday night (Jan. 11). But first, PV has a game at Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep on Thursday night (Jan. 10).

“It’s good to be in close games like this. It gets you ready for later on (state tournament), and we want to go far,’’ MacGowan said.

It had been about 10 days since the Trojans had played in a game, in a tournament hosted by Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain.

“We had five or six practices since, but the guys seemed kind of nervous, almost like they were starting the season over again,’’ MacGowan said.