Julia Coyne is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Mountain Pointe High School for AZPreps365.com

Mountain Pointe Pride boys basketball fell to the Higley Knights in the first round of the Open State Championship at Higley High School on Wednesday.

The 21st-seeded Pride, in the Open bracket from the 5A conference, were looking to prove themselves after going 3-16 last season. This season their record has greatly improved at 14-5. They were looking to prove themselves against the 12th-seeded Knights, a 6A team.  The last time these two teams faced each other the Pride lost 72-55. This out produced a similar result, with Higley winning 68-54.

Though the Pride ended up losing by 14, it was an exciting game. In the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, they made it a five-point game after trailing by 22 points after the third quarter, though ultimately losing by 14.

Mountain Pointe started the first half slow. The Pride were down 20-12 in the first quarter and the gap grew in the second quarter ending the first half at 39-26 Higley. The Pride struggled offensively and defensively with the pace that this 6A Higley team was showing in the first half. 

“I thought our start was slow. We came out a little too passive on both ends, trying to settle into the game instead of being aggressive and attacking,” said Mountain Pointe oach Kaimarr Price. The Dabney twins and junior point guard Noah Gloor dominated on offense for the Knights, showing their age and experience throughout the night.

The Pride's best players consist of mainly freshmen in the starting rotation with stars Marcus Isaac and Justin Kimbrough. Playing against an older team is tough for any team but it showed Wednesday. The score after the third quarter was 57-35.

Marcus Isaac averages 9.8 points per game with 6.3 rebounds per game. In this game he had 14 points. Only being a freshman he has helped this team to have success even with this loss.

“Just come out stronger. Don’t wait last minute, and for my team, just keep playing together and for each other,” said Isaac about their future in the 5A State Playoffs.

Mountain Pointe battling Higley at Higley High School (Julia Coyne/AZPreps365)

Down by 22 points in the third quarter, the Pride never stopped fighting.

“Fight to be aggressive, figuratively of course, punch them in the mouth and just don’t sit back and let somebody, you know, have their way with you,” said Coach Price.

Senior Kaden Gollhuir leads this team with an average of 14.2 points per game. Wednesday he had eight points for the Pride. Gollhuir not only leads the team on the court but mentally as well. He pushes his team to keep going, especially in times when they are down.

“I tell them we’re the best on the court no matter who we’re playing, we’re the best team on the court, we got to play like it, just keep your heads up and keep doing what you do,” said Gollhuir.

Now eliminated from the Open division, Mountain Pointe will move into the 5A state championship bracket. Higley is moving on in the Open to face the fifth seed, Sandra Day O'Connor.