Park-Gilbert battled back from an early deficit and kept the game close through much of the second half, but Benedictine Mesa's explosive late run and balanced scoring proved too much as the Redhawks earned a 90–72 victory.
First Half:
The Buccaneers opened strong behind Toate Sika's early burst, including a three-pointer and a layup to grab a 5–4 lead. Benedictine Mesa responded with a 10–2 run fueled by
Malik Payton's transition layup and
Damian Zivak's perimeter shooting. Zivak drilled two threes and converted three free throws, while
Kamron Robinson controlled the paint with multiple finishes and rim protection.
Park-Gilbert fought back with Caleb Ivy's scoring and Issac Wood's triple, trimming the gap to 16–22. But the Redhawks closed the half with timely buckets from Robinson and
Eric Blackwell, taking a
32–21 lead into the break.
Second Half:
Park-Gilbert came out firing after halftime. Ivy scored inside, and Mahlik Lindsey buried a three to cut the deficit to
47–49 at the 18:18 mark. Tanner Pate added a layup moments later, and the Buccaneers were within two points. But Benedictine Mesa responded with a momentum-shifting sequence—
Isaiah Howard's emphatic dunk and Blackwell's deep three pushed the lead back to 54–49.
The Buccaneers continued to fight, with Ivy hitting another three and Lindsey converting free throws to keep it close at
54–57. However, the Redhawks unleashed a dominant stretch midway through the half. Howard scored repeatedly in the mid-range, Zivak drilled a clutch three, and
Luis Marin delivered two huge threes and a layup during a 12–2 run that pushed the margin to
79–61. Blackwell added another three-pointer, and Howard capped his stellar night with a layup to make it
86–66. Park-Gilbert got late buckets from Lindsey and Dupree, but Benedictine Mesa's depth and execution sealed the
90–72 win.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead: The Redhawks are back on the court on January 8
th as they take on La Sierra on the road.
