At some point, the young Sunnyslope Vikings will likely start to reap the benefits of playing highly ranked opponents.

That point wasn’t Thursday, though.

In the first half of their season, the 8-6 Vikings have already faced the nation’s top-ranked team, Roosevelt California, as well as No. 2 and 4 programs in MaxPreps’ national rankings. On Thursday, in the Nike Tournament of Champions featuring Hoophall West, Sunnyslope opened with No. 2 Gonzaga College High School of Washington D.C.

For one quarter at least, the Vikings flashed their potential as a future top-25 team. But it wasn’t enough at Highland High, where Gonzaga ran away with a 69-53 quarterfinal tournament victory.

“We always try to challenge ourselves,” Sunnyslope coach Ray Portela said. “We are not afraid of anybody no matter where we play and who we play. We have a talented team. We are still a little raw and young, but we want to see where we are at.”

With only one senior on the roster, Portela’s squad went against a team that started five Division I signees, including Virgina Tech-bound Christian Gurdak.

The 6-10 low post senior (10 points, 11 boards in 22 minutes) helped pave the way for his team in the first quarter, when Gonzaga led 17-8. But Sunnyslope responded in the second quarter, outscoring Gonzaga 18-9.

“When we decide to play together and not care who gets the limelight we do some great things,” Portela said. “But there are times where guys take some bad shots and rush shots and that hurts us a little.”

Junior Kade Snyder’s back-to-back baskets jump started Sunnyslope’s offense early in the second quarter.

A three-point play by one of Arizona’s upcoming post players, 6-10 sophomore Darius Wabbington, and a steal and layup from another sophomore standout, Delton Prescott, left the Vikings trailing 21-19 in the second period.

Junior Nash Parmley capped that period in which Sunnyslope shot 60 percent with a three just before the buzzer sounded.

“I saw my point guard (Prescott) driving down the middle and tried to stay ready and not think about it and let it fly,” said Parmley about his three that tied the game at 26-26.

The road doesn’t get any easier for the Vikings, as the they’ll tip-off at 10:30 a.m. Friday against three-time defending champ Perry.

Perry, ranked fourth nationally, lost its opening round Hoophall West game to nationally ranked California Harvard-Westlake late Thursday night.