Mesquite and Valley Vista started Tuesday’s basketball showdown with comparable talent.

Then Mesquite’s leading scorer from last season, Shaylee Gonzales, picked up her third foul — in the first quarter. Mesquite’s long trip to Surprise appeared ready to start sputtering.

But even with just one senior on its roster, and with Gonzales on the bench until the 4:37 remained in the third quarter, Mesquite still kept pace with its non-conference opponent. When Gonzales returned, Mesquite closed the third period with a 14-5 run to go ahead for good and eventually put Valley Vista away, 56-49.

Like last season, Mesquite is young and dangerous this season. What’s different is that it possesses an inside game with Lauren Gustin, who sat out last season after transferring from Queen Creek.

Mesquite’s offensive boards along with Valley Vista’s turnovers kept the game close in the first half, when the biggest lead was four points and Gonzales went to the bench. Defense, a staple of both programs under the leadership of both coaches, Mesquite’s Candice Gonzalez and Valley Vista’s Rachel Matakas, also was on display.  

“Lindsey Vanallen did an amazing job on defense,” Candice said. “We had her keying in on (Valley Vista’s) Taylor (Chavez).

"That was a huge objective for her. She’s always so much about offense, but tonight she truly learned that she’s a defender. I think she needed that to grow.”

Chavez’s 17.2 points per game last season led her team but was held to eight points Tuesday.

Mesquite may have shut down Chavez, but Kiara Edwards came up with 18 points, mostly in the paint, for Valley Vista.

The Edwards and Gustin (18 points) matchup turned into a great 1-on-1 duel of will and positioning. Gonzales checked back in during the third quarter when another player picked up her third foul, Vanallen, the team’s second leading scorer from 2015-16.

But Gonzales (13 second half points) scored nine points in the late third quarter run to help put her team up 40-35 heading into the final eight minutes. Hailey Walker converted a three pointer — her second basket of the game — with 2:17 remaining, giving Mesquite a 34-31 lead.

“I think everybody played a role in that (run),” Candice said. “ Just the little things down that stretch in the third quarter put us over the top.”

Vanallen fouled out with 3:05 left in the game, and Valley Vista made the ensuing free throws to get within three points (47-44) of Mesquite (8-1).

But that’s as close as Matakas’ team got in the remainder of the game. Valley Vista (3-1) missed eight of its 11 three point attempts.