By Don Ketchum

It is looking more and more like Phoenix Pinnacle could wind up as the top team in boys basketball power points for Class 5A Division II.

The Pioneers still have four games remaining, so nothing is a given. But if they play out the regular season the way they did against host Scottsdale Chaparral on Tuesday night (Feb. 1), the stars should be aligned for them.

Pinnacle had four double-figure scorers and had 10 players put points on the board to earn a 72-62 victory.

Pinnacle was No. 1 in power points entering the game, Chaparral No. 2. Pinnacle raised its overall record to 19-3 while Chaparral slipped to 15-8 after dropping its third straight game and losing its first home game of the season.

This one was a far cry from when the teams met at Pinnacle on Jan. 14, when Pinnacle held on for a 68-67 victory.

“It was nice to have a little more breathing room,’’ said Pinnacle coach Charlie Wilde.

His team did not take control until the final five minutes of the third quarter. Chaparral had taken a 44-43 lead on a three-pointer by Alex Pyper, but Pinnacle went on a 9-2 run to take a six-point lead entering the fourth.

Chaparral still was within four early in the fourth, but Pinnacle pulled away and took a 62-51 lead with about four minutes left on a three-pointer by Chris Klima.

Drew Bender scored 14 points to lead the way for Pinnacle. Klima had 13, while Dorian Pickens and Kevin Bowman had 12 apiece. Pickens, a freshman, nailed a pair of three-pointers in the second half.

Zeke Chapman led Chaparral with 19 points, Luke Roh had 18 and Pyper 12.

“The freshman had ice water in his veins tonight,’’ Wilde said.

The coach was very happy with his team’s balance.

“We shared the ball and have been sharing the ball very well,’’ he said. “A lot of the time, we’re making that extra pass to make sure a man is open. We have been unselfish. On defense, we are usually where we are supposed to be.’’

The team wants to make a push for the No. 1 seed in the state tournament.

“We’re not just going to take it game by game, but quarter by quarter,’’ he said. “We need to work hard and continue to do what we’ve been doing.’’