Perry coach Andrew Curtis didn't know much about the Pumas' opponent Wednesday afternoon in the Joe Smith bracket of the 22nd annual Nike Tournament of Champions,.

"From what I could tell they like to get up and down the floor," Curtis said pregame.

Well the Pumas actually got up and down more often and more successfully and that helped defeat Sacramento (Calif.), 57-44, in the first round of action at the Powerhouse Hoops Facility in Phoenix.

Perry plays in the quarterfinals Thursday at Powerhouse at 2:30 against Cherry Creek (Colo.), a 56-50 winner over Lake Highland (FL). 

Perry (9-1) got offense from two main sources - sophomores Madison O'Connor and Tatyanna Clayburne. O'Connor finished with 19 points and Clayburne had 18 splitting their points evenly in both halves.

The Pumas, who field only one senior and one junior, jumped on Sacramento building a 13-1 lead late in the first period and finished the quarter up 17-3. The lead edged up a bit more to 33-16 at interemission. The second half was more of the same, although Sacramento made a faint run in the final period but got no closer than 12.

"They like to pressure and I thought we did a good job going at their pressure," Curtis said. "We ended up with some easy baskets. Other than a couple minutes of the fourth quarter it was a solid effort."

Seemingly frustrated not getting many easy chances from their pressure  tactics, Sacramento opted to shoot a whole bunch of threes. Not many fell.

The Dragons were 0 for 11 from behind the arc in the first half and made their only 3 in the third period. For the game they made 1 of 18. They were led in scoring by senior post Muirae Gomez with 15 points.

Arizona's other entry in the Joe Smith bracket - defending 6A champ Valley Vista - tasted defeat for the first time this season bowing to Redondo Union (Calif.), 51-27.

Sophomore Marisa Davis scored 17 points to lead Valley Vista (11-1), which played without standout freshman guard Jennah Isai for the sixth time in 12 games. Isai is idled by an ankle injury.

In other action involving Arizona teams, Millennium lost in overtime in the elite Clare Droesch Bracket to Crestwood Canada, 62-57. The Tigers (10-2) led virtually the entire game only to be done in by the heroics of Crestwood sophomore guard Shayeann Day-Wilson.

Day-Wilson netted a game-high 31 points - 20 of those in the fourth quarter and overtime. Day-Wilson made two free throws with 51 seconds left in regualtion to force overtime. In overtime she scored all 13 points. She snapped a 54-54 tie with two free throws, completed a three-point play on a fast-break opportunity and nailed down the win making 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute.

Day-Wilson took over the scoring load after 6-5 junior post Latasha Lattimore fouled out in the early seconds of overtime. Lattimore left having scored 20 points.

Millennium, which has suffered both losses to out-of-state or country schools, possessed balanced scoring in defeat. Junior Ali Zelaya led with 19 points, Freshman Trayanna Crisp tallied 12 off the bench and senior Dominque Phillips added 10. 

Millennium plays again Thursday in the consolation quarters against Riverdale Baptist (MD). Game time is 4 p.m. at Powerhouse.

HOW OTHER ARIZONA TEAMS FARED BY BRACKET

JOHN ANDERSON BRACKET

Gilbert High defeated Lakeside (Calif.), 58-52, and will play in the quarters Thursday at 4 against Macon County (Tenn.) at Powerhouse. Seton Catholic lost to Corona Centennial (Calif.), 52-39. Seton plays Thursday at 5:30 in the consolation quarters against Skyline (Texas). Hamilton lost to Fairmont Prep (Calif.), 48-45 and will play Thursday at 4 p.m. against Florida Prep at Kroc Center.

MIKE DESPER BRACKET

Mesquite defeated Omaha Northeast (Neb.), 57-52, and will play Upperman (Tenn.) in the quarters at 4 at Kroc Center. Chandler High lost to South Sioux Center (Neb.), 62-52 and will play West Campus (Calif) at 11:30 a.m. at Kroc Center. Sabino lost to Central Catholic (Ore.), 46-27, and plays Thursday at 5:30 against Chaparral (Colo.) at Kroc Center.

DAN WILEY BRACKET

Boulder Creek lost to Springfield (Ore.), 40-25 and will play Thursday at 5:30 at Mesquite HS against Mountain Vista, (Colo). Basha lost to Bradshaw Christian (Calif.), 49-43 and will play Red Mountain at 1 p.m. at Kroc Center. Red Mountain lost to Colonia (Fla.), 52-41.

DERRILL KIPP BRACKET

Casteel defeated Clark (Nev.), 44-31, and will play Thursday at 1 p.m. against Central (Ore) at Highland HS. Williams Field lost to Central (Ore.), 61-26 and will play Clark (Nev.) at 5:30 at Highland HS.  Westview lost to Mount Si (Wash.), 50-12 and will play Thursday at 2:30 at Highland HS. Pinnacle defeated Columbine (Colo), 41-34, and will play Thursday at 4 against Mount Si at Highland HS. Highland defeated Mater Dei Catholic (Calif.), and will play Thursday at 1 p.m. against Thunder Ridge (Colo) at Highland HS. Campo Verde  lost to Thunder Ridge (Colo.), 46-25 and will play Thursday at 5:30 against Mater Dei Catholic (Calif.). Chaparral defeated La Salle Prep (Ore.), 52-50, and will play Thursday at  4 p.m. against William Penn (Penn.) at Highland HS.