Perry High School (14-1) has been terrific this high school season - first winning the Paradise Valley Invitational earlier in the season, and now winning this year's McClintock Holiday Shootout. Perry is winning big this season behind the strong coaching leadership of Joe Babinski, who has developed winning programs everywhere he has gone, and the superb backcourt play of the Howard brothers - 5-foot-10 senior guard Jordan Howard and 5-foot-10 freshman guard Markus Howard.
Perry would win three games in a row in this year's McClintock tournament in blowout fashion, before knocking off a game Desert Ridge ballclub in the championship game on Monday evening, 74-70.
Desert Ridge (10-4) was led in the event by the strong play of 6-foot-3 senior guard Hunter Thomas. Thomas exploded in this year's event, averaging 26.1 points per/game in his team's four games of the tournament, including a 34-point outburst against a tough Brophy Prep team in the semi-finals of the event. Thomas would pour in 28 points in the championship loss to Perry.
The championship game would come down to both teams fighting hard down the stretch, with four players doing much of the scoring for both groups. The Howard brothers would control the offense for Perry, while Hunter Thomas would seem to hit almost every shot he took down the stretch, and Desert Ridge's talented 6-foot-4 sophomore Teddy Allen showing a strong ability to get to the basket almost at will and finish.
Teddy Allen would finish the game with a game-high 31 points in the loss, and while he was almost unstoppable off the dribble and getting to the basket, Allen's shot selection still needs improvement. He is a sure-fire talent with the basketball in his hands, but can settle too much for the long three-pointer.
After Perry would lead Desert Ridg at the half, 36-32, Perry would increase their lead to double-digits, 49-39, with 4 minutes left to play in the third period, behind strong scoring from Jordan and Markus Howard.
Hunter Thomas would connect on back-to-back three-pointers with defenders draped on him, and then a buzzer-beating three-pointer from 6-foot senior guard Dean Spitzer would bring Perry back within 4 points again, 55-51, to end the third period.
With Perry looking to pull away again in the fourth period, Hunter Thomas would again convert consecutive three-pointers to keep Desert Ridge close, but seldom-utilized 6-foot-1 junior Coby De Laveaga would convert a three-point play and another layup in transition in the final minutes of the game to seal the championship win for Perry.
Markus Howard would finish with a team-high 21 points in the victory, while Jordan Howard would finish with 18 points in the championship win. Perry has now won their last 7 games in a row on the season.
Notes: Perry High School 6-foot-4 senior forward Jake Mortensen contributed 11 points in Perry's championship victory in the McClintock Holiday Shootout on Monday evening. Mortensen missed the early season with an injury, but is now back and healthy and play very well for his team. Mortensen could be the difference down the stretch for Perry, alongside developing 6-foot-6 senior post Geoff Vredevoogd. Mortensen is very skilled and talented, while Vredevoogd is an athletic post player that runs the floor strong and blocks shots. This Perry team looks very strong thus far this season, and do not be surprised if they win it all in February.
