Tucson High continues to roll, winning five in a row in its 72-55 road win Thursday night against Salpointe Catholic, putting on a defensive masterclass.
“It felt good to come in here and get a dub (win) because everyone knows this is our trap (city). This is Tucson,” sophomore Jaylan Knight said.
Both teams were feeling each other out in the first quarter. Salpointe (9-9) jumped out to an early 16-12 lead, hitting on their second-chance points and getting to the line to complete 3-point plays.
Once the second quarter hit, Tucson found its footing and dominated the remainder of the game. The Badgers (16-6) disrupted the Lancers’ passing lanes, double- and triple-teamed their playmakers, forced them to take difficult shots and commit costly turnovers.
Knight led the team in scoring with 19 points. Most of them came in the second quarter, where he started to make his mark moving his way through defenders, making midrange shots, and driving to the basket.
Tucson took a 34-25 lead at halftime
The second half was more of the same; Tucson continued to assert its dominance on both sides of the ball. Fast-break points helped the Badgers extend their lead, giving them a 17-point cushion to put the game out of reach.
The paint belonged to senior Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi in the second half, ending his night with 15 points. Cunningham-Hiadzi imposed his will and got anything he wanted, whether that was points, rebounds, or making it difficult for Salpointe Catholic’s offense to make a bucket.
“We wanted this game,” he said. “We knew what we wanted, and we took it. That’s what we do, when we want something, we get it.”
Tucson looks to keep its momentum going, hosting Marana on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a 6A South matchup.
Salpointe Catholic had a quick turnaround, traveling to Sahuaro for a 4A Kino matchup Friday night.
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