The Mesquite boys basketball team snuck up on and beat Corona del Sol on Jan. 21 at Corona. The Wildcats are 4-2 in the 5A Central Region under new coach John Burns. They have won four of their last five region games and reside 1 1/2 games behind region-leader Mountain View (6-1) and one game back of Corona (5-2).

As fate and the schedule would have it, Mesquite gets a chance to gain a game on Mountain View Friday when it hosts the Toros. Mountain View won 63-39 the first time the teams played earlier this month.

But the Toros have dropped two of the their last four games, have starters Jaren Sweeney and Jeff Kerr on the sidelines with ankle and quad injuries, respectively. And sixth man Mitch Wallace was ill and missed practice Wednesday.

Seems like a golden opportunity for the Jason Garretson- and Sami Bzai-led Wildcats to pounce. Mountain View's depth -- particularly at the guard position -- will be tested as the second round of region play mounts.