SUNSET REGION: Grier sparks Sierra Vista’s victory

Sierra Vista’s boys basketball team forced 15 turnovers in the first half Tuesday, but the Mountain Lions didn’t take full advantage, largely because of their own sloppiness.

But better ballhandling and a red-hot Maiscei Grier made sure that wasn’t the case in the second half.

Grier scored 14 points in the third quarter and Sierra Vista (23-5) scored 19 points off turnovers in the second half on the way to a 62-39 home win over Cimarron-Memorial (21-8) in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.

“We found a spark in our defense that led on to a great run in our offense,” said Grier, a senior guard who had a game-high 17 points.

Grier didn’t score in the first half but had the first 11 points of the third quarter as the Mountain Lions extended a 19-15 halftime advantage to 30-15.

“I struggled a lot in the first half, and when I found my shot in the second half it gave us a spark for our defense,” Grier said. “And it was a wrap from there. It was easy.”

Grier was 0-for-3 from the field in the first half but drained 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions in the third quarter to help the Mountain Lions take control.

Grier was 6-for-7 from the field in the second half.

“He couldn’t buy one in the first half, and in the second half the rim must have been monstrous, because everything he put up was just money,” Sierra Vista coach Kent Johnson said.

Johnson said it was important for his team to take advantage of Cimarron miscues early in the third quarter. The Mountain Lions converted four turnovers into 10 points in the first three minutes of the second half.

“We came out and got a couple real quick capitalizations on turnovers and the flow of the game changed instantly,” Johnson said. “As soon as we got  little bit of energy, everybody picked up and things just clicked.”

Viko Noma’aea added 14 points and five assists and Dallin Molina had 10 points and seven rebounds for Sierra Vista.

The team’s other two starters, Gary Jacobs and Justice Odabi, played key roles as well. Jacobs had a team-high nine rebounds, and Odabi had three steals and numerous deflections from his spot at the top of the team’s zone defense. Odabi also had three assists, helping set up easy buckets in the lane in the first half.

“Those are two guys that are huge pieces of what we do all the time,” Johnson said. “They’re our long, athletic defenders that can defend anybody from point guards all the way up to centers and are really active.”

Sierra Vista was 16-for-27 from the field in the second half. The Mountain Lions had just one turnover in the third quarter after turning it over 13 times in the first half.

Erik Brewer had 13 points to lead Cimarron, which turned the ball over 24 times.

The Mountain Lions play Centennial in the semifinals at 4:40 p.m. Thursday at Desert Oasis.

Palo Verde 79, Durango 75 — At Palo Verde, Eris Winder had 29 points and four assists to help the Panthers (17-6) hold off the Trailblazers (16-11).

Nahjee Matlock added 20 points and Jordyn Martin contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for Palo Verde, which plays Bishop Gorman in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. Thursday at Desert Oasis.

Tre’Von Wells paced Durango with 21 points, Antonyo Robinson scored 19, and Cameron Stemley added 16.

Centennial 92, Western 68 — At Centennial, Evan Martin had 20 points and 11 rebounds and the Bulldogs (23-4) routed the Warriors (21-8).

Aaseem Dixon had 24 points and seven assists and Marcus Allen added 16 points for Centennial, which led 35-21 after one quarter.

Kentrell Washington paced Western with 23 points. Ryan Johnson added 20 points, including four 3-pointers.

Bishop Gorman 101, Legacy 64 — At Gorman, Shabazz Muhammad scored 32 points and Rosco Allen had 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Gaels (23-5) routed the Longhorns (14-13).

Ben Carter added 16 points for Gorman, which led 59-26 at the half.

Zach Lane paced Legacy with 22 points.