Sells Baboquivari has been on a major roll. Even with their 67-57 loss to The Gregory School on Wednesday night, the Warriors have an impressive 8-2 record under second-year head coach Bright Benson.

Likewise, the Hawks have a 7-1 record and are generally considered to be the program to beat in Division IV from Southern Arizona.

The Gregory School sprinted out to a 26-14 lead after the first quarter and held that margin for most of the way until Baboquivari cut the lead down to 60-52 with 2:58 left in the game thanks to a 3-pointer by Jacob Young.

The Hawks responded with a 7-0 run to reestablish their lead at 67-52. The Warriors were able to cut the lead down to the final score of 67-57 over the last 44 seconds.

Jamal Toro led Baboquivari with 19 points, Tarantino Baptisto added 13 and Jesse Ramon scored 12. The Hawks were led by sophomore guard Nick Rosquist. Rosquist scored a game-high 22 points and Andrew Zlaket added 15.

Senior Davis Byrne scored 11 points for The Gregory School. He is the son of University of Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne.

Benson sees great things coming from his squad and he hopes they respond well at the Tombstone Invitational over the winter break.

He replaced legendary coach Gary Manuel a year after Manuel recorded his 300th victory for Baboquivari and The Gregory School is also going in a very new direction with the hiring of Dr. Michelle Berry.

Berry has guided the girls squad at The Gregory School since 2007 and she was picked to replace longtime boy's coach Jason Apodaca and coach both squads this year.  At least that was the plan.

"Only seven of us came out for basketball," said Taylor Thompson. "We lost two of those to soccer so we knew we couldn't play with just five. I had a decision to make and the school checked to see if I could play with the guys."

Rather than miss her sophomore year, Thompson and the other four girls decided to join forces with the boys with Thompson on varsity and the other girls on the boy's JV squad.

"The guys are like my brothers," added Thompson. "They don't go any easier or harder on me. We are all treated the same."

According to Thompson, only one opponent has questioned why she is on the court with the boys but it hasn't fazed her.

As for Berry, it is unlikely she would have been able to coach both programs at the same time but if anyone could do it, it would be her. Characterized as "challenging yet well-liked" by some of her students, Berry is obviously in control.

"Baboquivari beat us pretty well in the fall-league," said Berry. "Our team is just starting to come together but we have a long, long way to go."

This is Berry's first time coaching boys and, despite the instant success, she knows there are a few adjustments.

"This is the first time I have coached a group that is already as intense as I am. In fact, I have to work to bring them down a bit but they have the same emotional ups and downs as girls do," she added.

The game between the two teams did not count as a section game. Their section game will be played on Jan. 7 at Baboquivari.