Gilbert's Doc Self nails a late free throw helping the Tigers edge Mesa High on Thursday. (AzPreps365 photo)

Gilbert High boys basketball coach Jay Caserio and Mesa High coach Shane Burcar grew up close by in the same Michigan town separated in age by five years. Their teams play a similar brand of basketball and this season with little size on either side it was a defensive battle worth watching.

Two technical foul free throws by Trajon Hawkins and three by Doc Self in the final 2:44 proved the difference as Gilbert hung on for a 44-42 win over Mesa in a 6A contestat the the Jungle.

Gilbert (4-2 overall), fielding the youngest team in Caserio's 11-year tenure, was more than happy to nab the its first power-ranking win after losing one at the buzzer Tuesday night against Boulder Creek. Mesa (5-1) lost for the first time this sason and is 1-1 in power-ranking games. 

Gilbert used a huge third-quarter advantage sparked by Self that turned a two-point halftime deficit to a 39-28 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. Self, who tied for game-high honors with 19 points, made all four of his field-goal attempts in the third quarter -- three from 3-point range. Hawkins added five points in the quarter and Jaqwuan Myles four combined to outscore Mesa, 22-9, in the third period.

Gilbert did not make another basket the rest of the game. The Tigers led 39-30 after a timeout with six minutes to play and that's when Mesa senior guard Mark Hatch (team-high 19 points) and Zach Hobbs (14 points) went to work to rally the Jackrabbits. Hatch made a three-point play and sank a long three. Hobbs, an outstanding 3-point shooter, also hit a three (his fourth of the night) and the game was tied at 39.

Gilbert took the lead for good, 41-39, with 2:44 left after Hawkins sank free throws off a technical foul assessed to Hobbs. Gilbert turned the ball over three times in the next 2 1/2 minutes, but Mesa missed shot attempts on all three of the ensuing possessions. Hatch missed a tough three with 18 seconds left and Gilbert ended up with the ball. Self went to the line for a one-and-one with 12 seconds left and made both. Hatch raced up court and couldn't convert on a drive to the basket. Self was fouled again and made one of two free throws with three seconds left to seal the victory. Hatch banked in a three at the buzzer.

"Neither of us has size, but size can be overrated," Caserio said. "We both have the ability to shoot it and handle it, and the three-ball can be the equalizer. One of the keys for us was the defense by Tyler LaGanke on (Mesa's Xavier) Fuller. Fuller can be a handful. Tyler played all 32 minutes and Fuller (five points, none in the second half) didn't have a big game."

Gilbert visits Pinnacle on Friday and Mesa gets a day of rest before hosting East Valley Region rival Red Mountain in its region opener Saturday afternoon at Mesa High.