Boys hoops: Fourth-quarter threes turn tide for Red Mountain

January 24, 2017 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Three-point field goals played a big part when Red Mountain and Mountain View played almost two weeks ago. Mountain View was taken aback by how effective Red Mountain shot treys that night, particularly Andres Mayberry in a 50-39 loss to the Lions.

Made threes were hard to come by in the rematch Tuesday night, but in a nip-and-tuck game connecting on 3 of 5 over a five-minuite span of the fourth quarter propelled Red Mountain to a 45-35 victory over its Brown Road rival at Red Mountain.

The victory enabled Red Mountain (15-8 overall, 7-1 East Valley Region) to remain tied with Mesa High for the 6A East Valley Region lead. Mountain View's chance at winning the region disappeared as the Toros dropped to 13-8 overall, 4-3 region.

"This was a grinder," Red Mountain coach Todd Fazio said. "We kind of thought they'd play zone this time. They don't do it often, but we prepared for it. We settled for quick shots early. As the game went on took better ones. Got  more patient with multiple passes. We hit some big ones in the last quarter."

Mountain View's zone was effective as the Toros led from midway through the first period to the final period nearly without exception. Both teams launched a bunch of threes in the first three periods with little success. Mountain View was 2 for 23 and Red Mountain 2 for 15 in that span.

But a three by Red Mountain's Jacob Ries to begin the final period, another Ries three two baskets later and the only trey Mayberry connected on (1 for 8) highlighted a 15-2 run that turned back Mountain View with 2:47 to play.  The lead at that point was the 39-27. Mountain View scored eight points in the first 13 1/2 minutes of the second half.

Timmy Allen led Red Mountain and all scorers with a modest 13 points. Andre Harris added 10 and supplied a solid effort defending Mountain View's top scorer Nick Sessions (3 for 11 from the field) in the post. Ries and Chance Johns tallied seven points each for Red Mountain. Mountain View was led by Zack Lyons with 10 points while Sessions, Matt Clark and Jared Finkenkeller checked in with seven points each.