The measuring stick game of the 5A girls basketball season took place Monday night at Mesquite High School and the hosts left no doubt as to who the team to beat is in the conference.

Mesquite continued its torrid play in the 2016-2017 season with defense setting the tone in a  70-41 romp over Sierra Linda. Mesquite improved to 17-1 and won its 12th game in a row. The loss was the first this season for Sierra Linda (14-1).

Mesquite, No. 1 in the current power rankings, jumped out to a 20-11 after one quarter and its lead was double digits the final three quarters. Mesquite coach Candice Gonzales stressed defending No. 2 Sierra Linda's top scorers -- Janae Gonzales and Jenay Bojorquez. Her team listened.

"We wanted to limit her (Gonzales) three-point shots," Candice Gonzales said. "She's been making seven or eight a game. Keeping Bojorquez from penetrating was the other thing. We wanted to make sure if there was a ball screen we jumped it."

Sierra Linda's junior backcourt duo has averaged 28 poiints a game. They combined for 19 points on Monday -- Bojorquez 14 points and Janae Gonzales a season-low five. Janae Gonzales didn't score until 2:40 remained in the third quarter. She made her only three in the final quarter and was 1-for-9 for the night beyond the arc. Sierra Linda committed 17 turnovers and many of them led to layups at the other end.

Mesquite's quick getaway came courtesy of Lindsey VanAllen. VanAllen picked up three steals and five points in the first two minutes for a 5-0 lead. VanAllen, who led Mesquite with 19 points, tallied 10 in the first period and 15 in the first half -- three of her baskets were threes. Shaylee Gonzales was next with 15 points on five layups off steals or drives she initiated plus five free throws.

The newcomers to this year's squad Lauren Gustin and Hailey Walker, registered 13 and 12 points respectively. Walker did most of her damage from the perimeter and Gustin was the inside presence. Mesquite connected on 14 of 16 free throws and sank 6 of 9 three-point field goals.

Both teams played in a holiday tournament with glowing success to end the first half of the season. Mesquite won a tough bracket of the Nike TOC prior to Christimas and Sierra Linda was 4-0 as the dominant team in Red Mountain's Holiday Classic post-Christimas.

Candice Gonzales gave her team five days off after their Nike triumph. It didn't stop them from hanging around the gym.

"They came in anyway running miles and lifting weights," Candice Gonzales said. "I was kind of stressed about all that time off. But the girls love the game. They don't ever want to let up."