Perry High School (9-1) won last year's McClintock Holiday Shootout, as then freshman star guard Markus Howard would also be selected as the 2013 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Returning this season as a sophomore, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound top performer will look to lead his Perry team to back-to-back tournament championships this season at the event.
On Friday afternoon, Markus Howard (Arizona State commit) would get off to a big start in the process of leading his team to another tournament title, after pumping in a game and tournament-high on day one - scoring 35 points on 13 for 21 shooting from the field. Howard and Perry would knock off Dobson HS 84-65 in the first round of this year's McClintock Holiday Shootout. Perry would lead Dobson 43-31 after the first half, and then would score 29 points as a team in the third period to blow the game wide open.
Perry would also get 16 points and 10 rebounds from 6-foot-5 junior John Schlangen and 13 points from 6-foot-3 senior guard Coby De Laveaga in the victory.
Perry will now move on to face Marcos De Niza HS in the quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. Marcos De Niza (5-5), while lacking much size, put on a first round clinic in their big 79-52 first round win over Moon Valley HS. Marcos would a get a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds from 6-foot-4 senior forward Sean Wood. 5-foot-10 sophomore guard Mason Stark would also finish with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the tournament win. Marcos has won 3 games in a row on the season.
In other games on the day, Arcadia would defeat Desert Ridge, 60-48. They will move on to face Boulder Creek HS (6-7) who turned in the upset victory of the day - defeating Brophy Prep (8-3), 62-56. After being down big to Brophy in the first half, 27-16, Boulder Creek would come back to outscore Brophy Prep 46-29 in the second half to win the game. Talented 6-foot-4 junior guard Nick Johnson is definitely one to watch this season for Boulder Creek.
Westview High School defeated Mesa 84-78 in the first round, while host Mcclintock would knock off rival Saguaro HS, 69-62. Basha would get an inspired effort from their team in a nice 67-33 win over Mountain Ridge HS. Basha will face the winner of Campo Verde and NFL Yet Academy, the final game on Friday evening.
