Ruby Arora is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Brophy College Prep for AZPreps365.com

GILBERT -- No. 3 Brophy College Prep continues to bully the 6A Premier class with its 10th consecutive win of the season in Tuesday night's conference game against No. 4 Perry, 61-46.

Bronco Braeden Speed set the game’s pace early in the first quarter. The sophomore guard weaved through Perry’s zone defense with an easy spin move, transitioning into an effortless Euro step for Brophy's first basket.

"I was the sixth man last year," Speed said. "It's my first year starting, and I will credit the great group of guys I have for that."

Forward Arman Madi complemented Speed's momentum with deft long-range shooting early, kissing a pair of threes from the top of the key to add six points to the board.

Madi led the Broncos with 20 points for the evening while Speed trailed with 16.

The Pumas knotted the score at 18 at the end of one quarter, but fell back behind in the second. Perry appeared a step slow against the Broncos' ball movement offensively as well as its collapsing defense. 

Brophy’s defensive pressure precluded Perry from getting to the rim in the second quarter, as the Pumas scored just nine points while the Broncos exploded for 20. At the half in this rematch between Top Five 6A schools, Brophy led 38-27 (the Broncos beat Perry, 56-39, on January 17 at Brophy).  

Madi's audacious dunk to open the third quarter appeared to unnerve the Pumas, who went scoreless for five and a half minutes. Meanwhile, Bronco guard Miles Nash made himself right at home when he jab-stepped at the elbow to backdoor his defender for a layup with an assist from teammate Patrick Chew. 

"One of the great things about this group is different guys step at different times," said Broncos coach Matt Hooten. "Miles handled their pressure and created plays."

Nash scored four points in the third quarter, just one fewer than a frustrated Perry's output, as the Broncos took a 47-32 lead into the final quarter of action. 

In the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, Puma freshman wing Koa Peat tenaciously went back-to-back for buckets, adding a visit to the free-throw stripe after one. Perry cut into Brophy’s lead, cutting the margin to 10 points, 47-37.

Perry's mere glance at redemption was all of nothing but a glimpse. Madi, the game’s leading scorer, drained an open 3-pointer to put the Broncos back up comfortably—and silence the Perry fans.

The Broncos abused the lack of a shot clock, setting the pace the game to their liking. The Pumas applied a full-court press, but Brophy’s maturity and experienced was suited to the pressure.

As the minutes drained off the clock, Perry’s frustration began to mount. As did its fouls. Pumas senior guard Kyle Waters, held scoreless after a six-point first quarter, fouled out due to a technical foul. It proved the exclamation mark on a frustrating night for Perry, which has not lost to an Arizona-based team besides Brophy in nearly two months.

"I was pleased with the way my guys play for each other and our team," Hooten said. "We are able to get open shots and defended well. The only thing I'm worried about is the next game."

The Broncos (20-2) will host Tuscon (17-4) next Tuesday at 7 p.m. Perry (18-5) will look to rebound from Tuesday’s defeat when it visits Hamilton (16-6) next Tuesday at 7 p.m.