CLASS 2A BOYS: Needles adds to hardware with win over Agassi Prep

Four starters on Needles’ boys basketball team experienced winning a Class 2A state title two years ago.

The Mustangs look determined to give the rest of the team the same taste.

Needles knew how to respond to a one-point halftime deficit Saturday in the title game of the Class 2A Southern League tournament at Durango, opening the third quarter on a 9-0 run on its way to a 71-59 victory over Agassi Prep.

“Michael Hills and Aaron Burns, they’ve been starters since they were freshmen,” Needles coach Jeff Plank said. “I think that’s what it comes down to, is everybody knows their role on this team.”

Needles (18-6) clinched the South’s No. 1 seed for the 2A state tournament, which begins Friday at Durango. Agassi Prep (15-8) advanced as the No. 2 seed.

The Stars led 40-39 at halftime, but Needles stole momentum with the 9-0 run to start the second half, capped by Ryan Andrews’ 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Burns led Needles with 15 points and seven rebounds, and teammate Lewis Larrabee contributed 15 points and five steals. John Ochoa had 11 points and Hills scored 10 for the Mustangs.

“We made some good shots, and we got the ball into Aaron Burns,” Plank said. “The key to our game is to have an inside-outside game.”

Needles also dominated defensively in the second half, holding the explosive Stars to 19 points and 7-for-35 shooting in the final two quarters.

“We didn’t come out in the third quarter like we wanted,” Agassi Prep coach William Hopkins said. “We missed shots and missed free throws, and you can’t do that against a quality team.”

Quincy Brown paced Agassi Prep with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Kalinn Jackson added 14 points for the Stars.

Curtis Watson tallied nine points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots for Agassi Prep, and teammate Anson Williams had eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Burns said experience has been key for the Mustangs all season. Needles has built plenty of momentum entering the state tournament, having won eight of its past nine games.

“I think it’s good. We know who to go to when we’re in trouble,” Burns said.

Meanwhile, Agassi Prep will look to rebound at the state tournament after having its four-game winning streak snapped.

Hopkins said his team wasn’t tired from an 86-80 win over Lincoln County on Friday night, but he wants to see a renewed focus in practice for the state tournament.

“You’ll see a different team next week,” Hopkins said. “We’re going to be focused.”