Mesa Mountain View didn't have an easy time dispatching slumping Chaparral on Friday night and Toros basketball coach Gary Ernst suspected as much heading to tipoff.

"I knew it, but I don't think the kids did," Ernst said. "When a team doesn't have a couple of its best players that can happen."

After not being able to distance itself from Chaparral in the opening half, Mountain View played a more solid, focused, second half and knocked off Chaparral, 55-41, at Toro Gym.

The victory, combined with Mesa High's 69-47 win over Desert Ridge, means Mountain View is section champ of Division I Section III. Mountain View's section record is 6-1 while Mesa and Desert Ridge finished a game back at 5-2. The Toros are battling to finish in the top 8 in the power rankings to earn a first-round bye. The Toros were No. 7 before Friday's games.

This was another night when Mountain View senior guard Tommy Kuhse needed to propel the offense and he came through with a 32-point effort. Kuhse kept Mountain View (14-8, 11-5) ahead in the opening half with 17 points, most of it on three-point shooting. Kuhse was 5-of-7 from three-point range in the first half. Mountain View led by as many as eight in the first half, but Chaparral battled and went to intermission down just 27-25.

"We needed to play a better second half," Ernst said. "We were better defensively, did a better job rebounding and they didn't make as many shots as they did the first half.

"This was one of those games when Tommy sees he needs to score. He has a way of feeling that."

Chaparral was playing without a couple of its top players, including its two leading scorers for disciplinary reasons. The Firebirds were focused in the second half limiting Kuhse's three-point chances and did a good job. But Kuhse adjusted and took the ball to the basket more. He scored eight of his 15 points in the second half from the free-throw line and finished 10-of-10 from the line. His teammates chipped in from the charity stripe as well. Mountain View was a sizzling 17-of-18 from the line in the second half.

Mountain View grew its lead to 40-30 after three periods and was not threatened in the final quarter. Chaparral was 4-for-22 from the field in the second half -- 1-for-11 in the third quarter.

Jalen Foster led Chaparral (8-16, 4-12 prg) off its bench with 14 points and Trey Checkett added 10 points. Chaparral has dropped four in a row and eight of its last 10 games. The Firebirds, No. 22 entering the contest,  are battling to stay in the top 24 and earn a playoff berth.