Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Greenway boys put sluggish start behind them, rout Youngker

December 26, 2012 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


The boys basketball team from Phoenix Greenway likes to move the ball up and down the floor freely and quickly.

So what happened in the first quarter of the Demons’ opening game against Buckeye Youngker in the Judy Dixon Holiday Tournament on Greenway’s home floor?

All the two teams could do in the first eight minutes was put up four points each. They weren’t exactly playing great defense.

“They were sluggish. It was like they still had that big Christmas dinner in their belly,’’ said long-time Greenway coach Howard Mueller.

Wearing its visitor’s green, Greenway finally awakened from its slumber in the second quarter. Guard Parker Wynn scored 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Demons grabbed an 11-point lead at the half. Greenway pulled away in the second half for a 60-38 victory.

Greenway (11-2) advances to the winner’s bracket and will face Phoenix Washington at 7:30 on Thursday night (Dec. 27) at Greenway. Washington opened with a 61-55 win over Gilbert Williams Field. Youngker (7-7) will meet Williams Field in a loser’s bracket game at 7:30 p.m. at nearby Phoenix Northwest Christian.

Greenway added four more 3-pointers in the second half, one by Wynn. The Demons had seven from long range for the game.

“No. 14 (Wynn) can shoot the ball if you leave him open, but that usually isn’t the way we work, relying on the 3’s,’’ Mueller said. “We like to press a little, create a few turnovers and then get up and down the floor.’’

Jordan Johnson and Chris Miller each scored 16 points to lead Greenway, and Wynn had 13.

Hyrum Bonnell and Tyler Bond each scored 8 to pace Youngker.

Greenway went on a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to build a 28-point lead before Youngker finished with a couple of 3-pointers.