The Gators
were outplayed in every way, shape and form by Tucson Pueblo on Monday night
(Nov. 20). They came back to face host Gilbert Mesquite on Tuesday night. It
would be a daunting task because
Mesquite, the defending 5A Conference champion, had put 117 points on the board
against Tucson Flowing Wells in the first round.
Xavier
matched Mesquite stride for stride for the most part, even leading at halftime
(by two) but the talented Mesquite team regained its composure in the second
half and went on to win 60-52.
The Gators
were aggressive from the start at both ends of the floor. They moved the ball
around, rebounded with more authority and more importantly did not have the
blank look on their faces that they had in the opener.
“I think
that after what happened on Monday, people expected them (Mesquite) to come in
and just run us off the court,’’ Gillom said. “Mesquite did not outhustle us
and they did not outplay us. For us to hold a good team like that (to 60) after
they got 117 the night before was a big improvement.
“We learned
from yesterday (Monday). We learned about discipline and trusting one another.
They came back and did what I asked them to do. We had a few little defensive
mistakes, but it was a good effort. I think that overall, this will help us
down the road.’’
Xavier
trailed by six at the end of the first quarter but came back to hold Mesquite
to nine in the second and led 30-28 at the half.
Unfortunately
for the Gators, the intermission interrupted their momentum.
“Yes, I was
thinking that if we had about four more minutes, we might have been farther
ahead with the way we were playing,’’ Gillom said.
Mesquite was
led by senior star point guard Shaylee Gonzales. But the two-time All-Arizona
player and Brigham Young signee limped off the court in the closing moments of
the third quarter and did not return. The injury did not appear to be too
serious and her mother, Mesquite coach Candace Gonzales, likely kept her out
the rest of the way as a precautionary measure.
Senior
forward Montana Oltrogge had another solid game for the Gators. She led the
team with 21 points and was much more aggressive in the rebounding department.
Junior wing Addison Putnam scored 11, including three 3-pointers, and junior
point guard Leilani McIntosh scored 10.
After a
two-day break, Xavier returns to tournament play on Friday (Nov. 24) at
Mesquite with a contest against Flowing Wells. Tip-off is at noon. The Gators
are expected to play a second game later that day (time TBA) and one more on
Saturday (Nov. 25). Saturday’s games will be at Highland.
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