The Benedictine Mesa Men's Basketball narrowly defeated Park Gilbert 76-75 Saturday afternoon.
1st Half: The game opened with Tanner Crawford scoring a jumper, putting the Redhawks ahead early. However, Park Gilbert quickly countered, building a 9-2 lead with a three-pointer from Marquis McKinzy and layups by Tanner Pate.
Despite Park Gilbert's strong start, Benedictine fought back, with Deven Franks and Emad Elniel making crucial jumpers and free throws. The lead changed hands multiple times as both teams exchanged baskets, highlighted by a three-pointer from Damian Zivak that briefly gave Benedictine a 20-18 advantage. Park Gilbert's Tyson Banks and Kylan Shorts kept their team competitive, matching Benedictine's scoring and capitalizing on turnovers.
As the first half progressed, Malik Payton's timely free throws helped the Redhawks regain a narrow lead, finishing the half with a 39-35 advantage. Benedictine's defensive resilience and clutch plays were pivotal in securing the edge going into halftime.
2nd Half: The second half brought continued intensity as the two teams battled fiercely. After a missed layup by Sika Toate, Deven Franks made a significant block, setting the tone for a defensive showdown. Benedictine struck first with a layup from Payton, maintaining a slight lead throughout the half. Key contributions came from Malik Payton and Benjamin Ramirez, who each provided essential layups.
With the momentum shifting back and forth, Tanner Crawford made a series of impactful dunks and layups, while Franks added versatility with critical jumpers. Although Park Gilbert's Latrell Jones found success at the free-throw line, Benedictine Mesa continued to build on their lead.
As the clock wound down, the tension escalated, but the Redhawks remained composed. Ramirez's relentless defense and scoring kept Park Gilbert at bay, ultimately leading to a thrilling finish. The game concluded with Benedictine Mesa securing a hard-fought victory, with a final score of 76-75.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks will return to the court on Thursday, February 20th, for their final home game of the regular season, facing Arizona Christian for Senior Night.
