Is Pueblo officially back on the Tucson hoops scene?

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Geoff Grammer

High school sports editor and general assignment sports reporter for the Tucson Citizen. E-mail him at ggrammer@tucsoncitizen.com

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Maybe its time to start paying attention to the Pueblo Warriors.

Junior wing Michael Perez, who has played as well as any player in Tucson this season, scored 40 points Tuesday to lead his team to a 79-68 win over visiting Catalina Foothills in the 4A-I Sonoran Region opener for both teams.

"It's a big win in a lot of ways for us," Pueblo coach Gary Crane said. "I know the guys came in thinking if we won tonight, maybe we'll start getting some respect. But we tell them every day respect is something earned. It isn't handed to you."

Pueblo is 13-5, 1-0 in league play. Foothills is 12-6, 0-1.

Sophomore Stephen Ponce added 19 points for Pueblo. Foothills' Sterling North scored a team-high 22.

But it was Perez who dictated the pace for Crane's young Pueblo squad that started two sophomores and three juniors.

"I haven't seen anyone better - not in Tucson," Crane said. "He's young and he's learning, but he's a leader and he lights a fire under this team."