LAKE MEAD CLASSIC: Mustangs go inside to top Panthers

The Meadows’ center, noticing an obvious size advantage in the post, took matters into his own hands to guide the Mustangs to a late second-half resurgence and a 40-29 victory over the Panthers.

“It was a good team effort,” the 6-foot-4-inch senior said. “We obviously had the size advantage in the post, so we took advantage of that every time down the court.”

The Meadows needed an answer for its first-half dry spell, during which it shot just 1 of 6 from 3-point range.

“The first half, we weren’t taking good shots,” Aziz said. “We were being nervous with the ball. Some of our wings weren’t taking the shots during the game we played at 4 p.m. At halftime, we talked about that. Take open shots you’re capable of making and our confidence will go up.”

The Mustangs hit just 4 of 13 shots from the field in the first half, with Aziz scoring six of his game-high 14 points in the period, and trailed 15-10 at halftime.

“We came out flat in the first half,” The Meadows coach Gary Hannig said. “I don’t know if the first game had something to do with it. But we got our big guy involved in the second half.”

Aziz battled foul trouble and a rolled an ankle grabbing a rebound in the first half, but came out with renewed energy when it mattered most.

With less than seven minutes in the game, Brandon Rufty sank back-to-back baskets to give the Mustangs a 28-25 lead. The Meadows finished the game on a 7-0 run.

“That’s what I told them in the timeout with three minutes to go,” Hannig said. “’Finish the game out and don’t let them back in the game.’ I can’t ask for more our first day, considering we’re a young team.”

Senior guard Tyler Higbee led the Panthers with 10 points.

The Meadows 56, Pahrump Valley 32 — In its opening game, The Meadows used an 11-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from the Trojans. Eric Hirsberg had a game-high 16 points for the Mustangs, who sped to a 23-13 halftime lead.

Senior forward Adam Brand had six points for Pahrump.

Lake Mead 62, Calvary Christian (Calif.) 41 — Senior point guard Justin Yamzon scored 24 points, including 15 in the first half, to lead the Eagles to victory in their first game of the day.

Yamzon connected on three 3-point shots was 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.

Lake Mead used a 20-3 run to begin the second half and led by as many as 30 points.

Senior Caleb Pitman added 13 points for the Eagles. 

Lake Mead 52, Pahrump Valley 27 — Yamzon tallied 25 points and hit five 3-pointers for Lake Mead.

The Eagles had two lengthy runs in the first half, including an 11-2 stretch to open the game. 

Dalton Beighley had eight points for Pahrump.

Bishop Gorman JV 36, Calvary Chapel 24 — Zac Yates and Drew Hammond each had 10 points for the Lions, who fell to Gorman’s junior varsity.

Calvary Chapel 33, Beaver Dam (Ariz.) 21 — Quintin Hank had 10 points to help the Lions down the Diamondbacks.

GIRLS

Lake Mead 40, Beaver Dam (Ariz.) 16 — Senior guard Taylor Badua-Kono scored 19 points ,and Megan Watkins added nine points for the Eagles, who raced out to a 25-8 halftime lead.

Calvary Chapel 38, Bishop Gorman JV 20 — Chloe Hammond had 19 points as the Lions topped the Gaels’ junior varsity.

Calvary Chapel 31, Pahrump Valley 12 — Hammond and Phallen Nelson each had eight points as the Lions downed the Trojans.

Pahrump Valley 25, Indian Springs 17 — Shayla Dance had eight points to help the Trojans hold off the Thunderbirds.

Heather Thormahlen scored 11 points for Indian Springs.

The Meadows 30, Beaver Dam (Ariz.) 6 — Anjali Daulat and Kaiya Massey each had six points to lead a balanced attack as the Mustangs routed the Diamondbacks.

The Meadows 23, Calvary Christian (Calif.) 14 — Bailey Gosse had eight points as the Mustangs collected their second win of the day.