Corona del Sol's boys basketball team encountered its first taste of adversity this season on Monday night facing Gilbert High on its home floor. That adversity didn't subside until the final couple minutes as the Aztecs rallied in the fourth period for a 60-52 victory over the Tigers in a Division I game at The Jungle.

Corona del Sol (7-0, 4-0 in power-ranking games) won its 27th consecutive game dating back to last season's loss to national power Findlay Prep, its only blemish in 2013-14 on the way to a third straight big-school title and a 34-1 record overall. Gilbert (6-2, 4-1 prg) entered Monday playing good ball, too.

Two of Corona''s top holdovers from last year -- sophomore guard Alex Barcello and senior forward Dane Kuiper -- keyed some pressure defense via a trap that after the first period yielded turnovers and several layups to help Corona get back in the game. Barcello finished with a team-high 22 points -- eight in the fourth quarter. Kuiper tallied 16 points and freshman center Marvin Bagley III added 14 points.

"They played very well and shot the ball well early," Corona del Sol coach Sammy Duane Jr. said. "They hit everything. We didn't close on shooters, and were too soft defensively. Once we got some pressure going it helped us get back in it. We haven't been behind like that since Findlay Prep last year. We have some work to do, but being able to come back and win one like this was good."

The Tigers stunned the the Aztecs with an opening quarter, field-goal barrage that might have been good enough to put away most opponents for the rest of the game. After three minutes of the opening quarter, Gilbert led, 15-2. Gilbert guard Nick Agostino connected on three 3s in the first quarter, three more in the second and finished the first half with 20 points. Gilbert made 12-of-21 shots from the field in the opening half. Agostino finished with 22 points and teammate Chris Bowling added 11 points.

"We started out hot and executed our game plan," Gilbert coach Jay Caserio. "We made a lot of shots. But they don't give you a prize for leading for three quarters. We had trouble with their trap. We didn't figure it out in time."

Gilbert led virtually all the way the first 27 minutes. Other than a couple brief leads of one and two points Corona managed in the second period, Gilbert led after one period 17-15, at intermission 33-28 and 44-39 heading to the fourth period. A three at the buzzer of the third period by Bowling gave the Tigers a boost and positive vibes to huddle prior to the fourth.

Those vibes, however, ebbed away as Corona's pressure at half- and front-court combined with overall solid play in the final period took a toll on Gilbert.

Gilbert busted out to a 15-2 lead after three minutes of play thanks mainly to the three-point shooting of Agostino. Corona recovered and by quarter's end was down by only two. Corona took the lead for good with 4:45 left as the 6-foot-10 Bagley got the ball low, scored was fouled and completed a three-point play for a 48-46 Aztecs' lead.

Corona forced another of Gilbert's 19 turnovers -- 11 in the second half -- that led to an open three for Corona's Tyrell Henderson, who was praised in postgame for his defense throughout the night, in the right corner and Henderson buried it. It was only the second three Corona made in the game and its lead was now 51-46. An offensive foul on Gilbert turned the ball over again. Corona ended ended up with a layup as Barcello slipped through the Tigers zone for an easy layup. Corona had begun that possession with what looked like a four-corners offense for the final three minutes.

Byron Hurd connected for Gilbert's 10th and final three of the game to pull the Tigers within 53-49 with 2:35 to go. Four free throws by Barcello and a Barcello no-look feed to Bagley for a layup with 29 seconds left bumped the lead to 59-50. Game over.