Tarkanian Boys: Class 2A Democracy Prep makes Palo Verde latest 4A victim

Democracy Prep’s boys basketball team already had three wins over Class 4A opponents this season.

The Class 2A Blue Knights got their fourth — and third against a Northwest League opponent — in the prestigious Tarkanian Classic at Faith Lutheran on Thursday night.

Daniel Plummer scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, and Democracy Prep stormed to a 30-13 halftime lead en route to its 61-41 victory over Palo Verde in the Gatorade Division bracket.

“My team can play basketball. We work hard,” Democracy Prep coach Trevor Diggs said. “We put in a lot of work. People think just because we win in 2A — 2A’s not a bad league. We just want to show we can play with anybody on any given day.”

Plummer was a big reason why. The 5-foot-10-inch, junior guard more than made up for the absence of starting point guard Najeeb Muhammad, who hasn’t played since Dec. 5 because of a broken thumb.

“Daniel works hard,” Diggs said. “He’s a 4.0 (GPA) student. He takes the bus to school every day. Daniel’s the type of kid you would want on any team. The kid is a bull. He works hard and attacks the basket against anybody. I’m happy for his success, especially with his best friend being out.”

After quickly falling behind 5-0, Democracy Prep (11-1) went on a 14-0 run and never looked back. Plummer drove from the half-court line and made a contested layup at the halftime buzzer to give the Blue Knights a comfortable lead.

Diggs praised his team for stepping up the past seven games without Muhammad, who had been blossoming into one of the state’s best players. Akeemis Williams had 13 points, and Sameel Anderson scored seven for Democracy Prep.

“It’s big time — part of what we preach. Next man up,” Diggs said. “We’ve rallied around him.”

Caden Loerwald and Thomas Truman each scored nine points for Palo Verde (6-5).

Clark 44, Westchester (Calif.) 36 — At Bishop Gorman, James Bridges and Jalen Hill each scored 12 points, and the Chargers outscored Westchester 21-12 in the second half to pull away in the Platinum Division.

Hill scored 11 of his points in the second half.

Greg Foster had seven points, and Trey Woodbury scored five for the Chargers, who trailed 24-23 at halftime.

Zellie Hudson scored 13 points to lead Westchester.

Bishop Gorman 83, Centennial (Calif.) 69 — At Gorman, Jamal Bey scored 22 of his game-high 38 points in the second half to rally the Gaels from a 10-point halftime deficit and top the Huskies in the Platinum Division.

Zaon Williams gave Gorman its first lead of the second half at 50-49 with 9:10 remaining when he scored on consecutive possessions, then Bey took over to lift the Gaels.

Bey assisted Isaiah Cottrell in the lane minutes later to give Gorman the lead for good at 54-52, and the play started a 15-3 run. The Washington-bound senior also provided the game’s highlight play, when he threw down a one-handed jam over a defender while getting fouled.

Noah Taitz had four 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, and Collins scored 15 for Gorman, which trailed 41-31 at halftime.

D.J. Davis led Centennial with 21 points.

Sheldon (Calif.) 63, Foothill 45 — At Gorman, Dylan Hushaw hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in the Falcons’ loss to the Huskies in the Orleans Division.

Jace Roquemore added 10 points, and Marvin Coleman scored seven for Foothill.

Dale Currie had 16 points for Sheldon.

Grandview (Colo.) 75, Durango 43— At Gorman, Anthony Hunter had 23 points in the Trailblazers’ loss to the Wolves in the Orleans Division.

LeAndre McIntyre added eight points for Durango, which got outscored 39-15 in the second half.

Dayne Prim had 24 points for Grandview.

Southwind (Tenn.) 98, Coronado 89 — At Gorman, Eric Alston poured in 30 points in the Cougars’ loss to the Jaguars in the Orleans Division.

Tyrelle Hunt had 21 points, Jaden Hardy had 18 points, and Jalen Thomas scored 12 for Coronado.

Mark Freeman led Southwind with 33 points.

Villa Park (Calif.) 60, Cheyenne 57 — At Faith Lutheran, Kavon Williams scored 18 points in the Desert Shields’ loss to the Spartans in the Eastbay Division.

Glen Taylor had 12 points, and Damion Bonty scored 10 for Cheyenne, which allowed 10 3-pointers.

Julien Franklin scored 21 points to lead Villa Park.

Arbor View 74, Buckeye (Ariz.) 65 — At Faith Lutheran, Jarrod Burks led three double-figure scorers with 23 points as the Aggies topped the Hawks in the Eastbay Division.

Tyre Williams added 18 points, and Donovan Yap scored 14 for Arbor View, which outscored Buckeye 47-36 in the second half.

Otis Frazier led Buckeye with 32 points.

Sierra Vista 86, Valor Christian (Colo.) 63 — At Faith Lutheran, Maka Ellis led all scorers with 25 points to power the Mountain Lions past the Eagles in the Eastbay Division.

David Howard added 20 points, and Isaiah Veal and Jalen McFadden scored 11 apiece for Sierra Vista, which also got 10 points from Maitland Williams.

Hunter Shkapich had 19 points for Valor Christian.

Faith Lutheran 50, Timpanogos (Utah) 49 — At Faith Lutheran, Jaylen Fox led a balanced attack with 15 points to lead the Crusaders past the Timberwolves in the Eastbay Division.

Brevin Walter had 14 points, and David Heckard scored eight for Faith Lutheran, which shot just 6-for-11 from the line.

Timpanogos had a chance to win off an inbounds play with 2.5 seconds, but missed a half-court shot as the buzzer sounded.

Matt Norman scored 13 points for Timpanogos.

Campbell Hall (Calif.) 72, Las Vegas 58 — At Faith Lutheran, Donovan Joyner scored 23 points in the Wildcats’ loss to the Vikings in the Gatorade Division.

Jaylin Headen had 16 points for Las Vegas, which trailed 39-34 at halftime.

Mike Meadows led all scorers with 34 points for Campbell Hall. The Vikings made 29 of 43 free throws in the contest.

Basic 54, Mojave 53 — At Desert Oasis, Geoff Faries made seven 3-pointers en route to a game-high 30 points to lead the Wolves past the Rattlers in the Gatorade Division.

John Harper scored 21 for Mojave, which led 30-27 at the break.

No other Basic player scored more than six points.

Morningside (Calif.) 63, Western 50 — At Desert Oasis, the Warriors fell to the Monarchs in the Nike Division despite 21 points from Kizhonie Blunt.

Robert Taylor added nine points for Western, which trailed 29-16 at halftime.

Tyon Harvey led Morningside with 24 points.

Summit Academy (Utah) 65, Valley 44 — At Desert Oasis, the Vikings lost to the Bears in the Nike Division despite 14 points from Oscar Burns.

Tommy Anderson added nine points for Valley, which trailed 28-17 at halftime.

Tyler Kartchner led Summit Academy with 16 points.

Bingham JV (Utah) 54, Del Sol 50 — At Desert Oasis, the Dragons came up short in the final minutes in the Nike Division despite 14 points from Keith Seldon.

Maalik Flowers added 13 points for Del Sol, which trailed 24-21 at the break.

Luke Tueller led Bingham’s junior varsity with 16 points.

Liberty 82, San Joaquin Memorial (Calif.) 64 — At Gorman, Julian Strawther made five 3-pointers and finished with 38 points to spark the Patriots past the Panthers in the Select Division.

Cameron Burist had 18 points, and Jordan Holt scored 12 for Liberty, which led 42-37 at halftime.

Jalen Green poured in 25 points for San Joaquin Memorial.

Desert Vista (Ariz.) 70, Shadow Ridge 44 — At Desert Oasis, the Mustangs were blown out by the Thunder in the Select Division.

Anthony Jamarillo scored a team-high 10 points for Shadow Ridge, which trailed 36-18 at halftime.

Wesley Harris scored a game-high 18 points for Desert Vista.

Desert Oasis 84, St. Joseph (Calif.) 63 — At Desert Oasis, Jacob Heese poured in 32 points to help the Diamondbacks dismantle the Knights in the Select Division.

Manny Mitchell and Felix Reeves scored 11 points apiece for Desert Oasis, which led 44-27 at halftime.

Eihu Cobb led St. Joseph with 21 points.