Jacob Inclan, Cesar Ozuna and Carlos Lozoya have been part of Tucson Sunnyside's attack since they were freshmen. Still only juniors, the trio will be a major part of returning the Blue Devils to the prominence they held two decades ago.

By coincidence, Tucson Cholla won their state championship in 1992 and Sunnyside won theirs a year later. And, like the Blue Devils, the Chargers have been built from the ground up with a team that features seven seniors. Their time is now.

The two met Monday night in the opening round of the Salpointe Tipoff Classic in a preview of what just might be an exciting run to the Division II state championship.

Sunnyside took an early lead but Cholla hit three 3-pointers in the last two minutes of the first quarter to go up 18-13. They would eventually build a 22-13 lead but Sunnyside battled back to get the deficit down to 30-25 at the half.

Inclan is generally considered one of the best guard prospects in the state but he was held to only three points in the first half. Sophomore Santino Duarte kept the Blue Devils in the game with eight points and Ozuna added seven.

On the other side, 6-foot-4 Lual Magot scored 10 and Ezikiel Alley added eight.

Lozoya opened up the third quarter with a 3-pointer and Ozuna drained two free throws to tie the game up at 30-30. It looked like momentum had shifted but Cholla built the lead back up to 37-30.

Inclan scored six points in the quarter including a 3-pointer to cut the lead back down to 42-41 with 6.3 seconds left but Jorge Carrasco hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to build the margin back up to four points.

Magot took over and scored 10 points in the fourth to give Cholla a 52-47 lead with 1:135 left in the game. Duarte scored a few seconds later and then Lozoya hit two free throws to make it 52-51 Cholla with 48.8 seconds left.

Carrasco hit a free throw to put Cholla up 53-51 with 31.5 seconds left but Ozuna drained a 3-pointer to give Sunnyside their first lead since late in the first quarter, 54-53 with 7.1 seconds left.

Alley only scored two points in the fourth but it was a good one. Down by one point, Alley drove the length of the court untouched for a layup to help Cholla retake the lead 55-54 with 3.9 seconds left.

Inclan had one more shot as he was also left unhindered but his attempt glanced off the rim as time expired.

Ozuna led Sunnyside with 15 points, Inclan had 12, Duarte had 11 and Lozoya added nine. For Cholla, Magot had a game-high 17 points, Alley had 15 and Carrasco added 10.

In earlier action, Tucson Catalina Foothills held on to defeat Tucson Rincon/University 70-66. Foothills built a 24-14 lead after the first period but it was cut down to 33-26 at the half.

Junior guard Nik Nehls is the younger son of former University of Arizona standout Joe Nehls. A scorer like his father and brother Austin, Nik hit four 3-pointers and finished with 22 points to lead Foothills. Michael Pecora added 12.

The Rangers made a good showing and cu the lead down to 48-44 heading into the final quarter but they couldn’t get over the top. Junior guard Thomas Wabaunsee scored 22 and Brendan Rumel added 20.

Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge and Nogales matched up next with the Apaches sprinting out to a 24-9 lead after one and 40-20 at the half. Austin Aguilar led the Nighthawks with 15 points, Anthony Marshall had 12 and Matt Solverson added 10 an Ironwood Ridge was only down 52-42 after three.

The final margin would stay at ten with Nogales winning 76-66. Jesbre Valenzuela had 22 points, Jose Estrada had 18 and Alberto Maldonado had 13.

In years gone past, a Tucson Salpointe vs. Tucson Amphitheater game would be a high-octane match with non-stop defensive pressure but the Lancers overmatched Amphi and went on to win 81-32.

Coleman Jackson scored eight to lead Amphi and Justin Holbrook added seven. For Salpointe, Ethan Parkhurst scored 27 and Alec McCall had 11.

Salpointe Tipoff Classic

Nov. 24-26, 28-29

Tuesday, Nov. 25

3:30 pm Cholla v. Ironwood Ridge

5:00 pm Nogales v. Sunnyside

6:30 pm Foothills v. Amphi

8:00 pm Salpointe Catholic v. Rincon

Wednesday, Nov. 26

3:30 pm Amphi v. Rincon

5:00 pm Cholla v. Nogales

6:30 pm Ironwood Ridge v. Sunnyside

8:00 pm Salpointe Catholic v. Foothills

Friday, Nov. 28

Bracket Play

Saturday, Nov. 29

Bracket Play

Championship at 8 pm

More photos at AllSportsTucson.com