A big second half offensively from Carson Basham and a vastly improved defensive effort after intermission were the keys to Sunnyslope rallying past Catalina Foothills, 56-52, on Thursday on Day 2 of the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge at Mountain View High School.

Sunnyslope improved to 8-5 for the year and 1-1 in the tournament. Not a bad place for a team that features virtually a brand new cast after graduation gutted the two-time defending 5A champs after their latest title win over Deer Valley in March. Catalina Foothills is also 8-5  for the year and 0-2 in the tournament.

"We didn't play very good defense in the first half,"  Sunnyslope coach Ray Portela said. "We let them take the shots they wanted. We thought we needed to put more pressure on the perimeter and take out chances from there."

Sunnyslope got a game-high 19 points from junior Paul Hayden, who was steady in each half, 16 from Basham and nine from freshman Jayden Warren. Catalina Foothills was led by Carson James with 16 points and Daniel Garcia with 11 off the bench.

Sunnyslope trailed 30-23 at halftime and 34-25 a couple minutes into the second half. The next thing you know a 13-1 run put Vikings up 38-35. Their advantage stretched to 44-38 with six minutes left before it became a battle over the final 4 1/2 minutes.

Basham shined from that point.The 6-foot-9 sophomore post, who scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half, converted a pair of three-point plays around a Will Menaugh bucket for Catalina Foothills to extend the lead to 52-45 with 2:48 to play.

Catalina Foothills made four free throws over the next 1:38 to pull within 52-49. Basham responded with a turnaround jumper from 12 feet out, but CFH's stayed within a possession via a three by Garcia with 24 seconds left. 

With its lead, 54-52, Zach Paloma made two free throws with 17 seconds left, giving Sunnyslope a four-point cushion that Catalina Foothills couldn't dent.

Shooting percentage told the tale in the second half for Catalina Foothills. The Falcons made 12 of 20 shots (60 percent) in the first half. In the second half just 5 of 21 (24 percent). Three-point shots made were cut in half over the final 16 minutes.

"We're going through growing pains, no doubt," Portela said. "We have a couple sophomores and three freshmen and guys that didn't play much last year on varsity. We'll get a week of practice next week, and hopefully be where we want to be come February."

OTHER VISIT MESA RESULTS

AMERICAN FORK (Utah) 68, MOUNTAIN VIEW 65:  The Toros (6-6 overal , 1-1 tournament), couldn't hold a 10-point lead over the final seven-plus minutes and fell to the unbeaten Cavemen (10-0, 2-0 tournament).

American Fork used a 19-6 run over the last seven minutes to prevail. Isaac Johnson led American Fork with 23 points, Tanner Cluff had 18 and Trey Stewart chipped in 12. Mountain View's top scorers were Jackson Reavis with 17 and Blake Tingey with 12.

PERRY 72, MILLENNIUM 59: The Pumas (11-4, 2-0 tournament) battled back from a poor start to top the Tigers (10-4, 1-1). 

Perry trailed 13-1 in the first couple minutes, pulled within one by halftime and blew past Millennium in the second half. Freshman Dylan Anderson netted 24 points and senior Jalen Willams 19 for Perry.  Justus Jackson totaled 24 points for Millennium.