#10 Mesa High's hot shooting early from three-point range didn't last all game Friday in its battle with #12 Mountain View for first place alone in the 6A East Valley Region. It was good enough to allow the Jackrabbits to control the contest and notch a 55-49 road win at Toro Gym.

Mesa sank 7 of 11 treys in the first 11 minutes to amass a double-digit lead (21-10 after the first quarter). Its lead varied the rest of the way, but never dipped below four points and was mostly between six and 10. Mesa is 15-6 overall and 5-0 in region halfway through the region schedule. Mountain View is 10-10, 4-1.

Talbot Cummard and Josh Irish paced Mesa with 21 points and 13 points, respectively. Cummard scored 15 of his points in the first half and Irish 11 of his in the first 16 minutes. They were responsible for all but two of eight made threes - Cummard and Irish were each 3 of 5 behind the arc. All of the those makes were in the first half.

Mountain View, which never led in the game but kept the heat on Mesa to retain its advantage, relied heavily on junior guard Brigg Wolfe for its offense. Wolfe tallied 27 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. Connor Cook chipped in with nine points.

Mountain View got within four points several times in the fourth quarter. The last was 50-46 with 2:54 to play. Layups by Irish and Noah Hunt and free throw from Parker Escalante kept Mountain View from getting any closer.

Both teams resume action and region play on Monday (Jan. 24). Mesa hosts Dobson and Mountain View travels to Westwood.

Mtn. View assistant coach Jason Palmer, subbing for Gary Ernst, talks strategy during a timeout. (Azpreps365 photo)