Gilbert's boys basketball team is showcasing new faces - more than in the past two seasons - so it may take time for them to get their footing. A good start came Friday night in its home opener with San Tan Region rival Casteel.

Led by a relentless defense, Gilbert's second-half domination proved lethal in a 55-27 romp. The win evened Gilbert's record at 1-1 while Casteel fell to 0-3 in its first week under new coach Aaron Windler.

"Our defense was really good, I think they scored nine points in the second half," Gilbert coach Jay Caserio said. "I thought the on-the-ball defense by Tampa (Scott) and KJ (Perry) was outstanding. We were good in the first half and a lot of times its hard to sustain that. Tonight it might have been even better in the second half."

Tampa Scott, a senior in his third varsity season, is Gilbert's clear-cut leader and lone returning starter.

"Tampa, he's got to be our guy," Caserio said. "Unselfish. He distributes the ball well, and the defense he plays is unbelieveable."

Defense has been his forte all along and it seemed contagious as the rest of the Tigers followed suit not matter their position on the floor.  Gilbert limited Casteel to 11 of 43 shooting from the field (26 percent).

Scott contributed nine points sinking three treys. The only other player with a decent amount of varsity experience - Nikko Pentelute - chimed in with eight points. Two of his baskets were threes.

Perry, a lightning quick sophomore, was the Tigers' first player off the bench. His trey as time ran out in the first half bumped Gilbert's lead to 28-18. The Tigers' advantage would never dip below double digits the rest of the game. They outscored Casteel, 27-9, in the second half. For the game Casteel made 11 of 43 shots (26 percent), and only one three. 

Perry and newcomer via out-of-state transfer Carter Korab tied for game-high scoring honors with 14 points apiece. Korab, a 6-foot-6 senior, has made an impression in his first two games. He grabbed 17 rebounds in the Tigers' season-opening loss at Centennial and will be a double-digit scorer often.

Rounding out the contributions of the starters was 6-6 junior post Reed Shuey. Shuey netted eight points and was on the finish of a pair of second-half transition baskets. 

Top scorers for Casteel were Tyson Coleman with eight points and Liam Burt with seven. Casteel endured a pair of six-point losses prior to Friday, bowing to Higley and Red Mountain.