Citizen Staff Writer
TC Varsity
KEN BRAZZLE
kbrazzle@tucsoncitizen.com
After jumping out to a big early lead on visiting Sierra Vista Buena on Wednesday night, the Ironwood Ridge boys basketball team got complacent.
Sluggish play in the second and third quarters led to a 47-40 Buena lead heading into the fourth quarter and drew the ire of Ironwood Ridge coach Brian Peabody.
“We went up early and we took things for granted,” said Ironwood forward Chad Carter. “Coach told us not to let up the intensity but we did anyway. We went in at halftime and got the speech.”
The words finally sunk in by the fourth quarter when Ironwood Ridge outscored Buena by 12 to win 63-58.
The comeback featured Ironwood Ridge getting the ball inside to Carter and 6-foot-11 center Brandon Duliakas.
Carter, who scored nine in the quarter, finished with a game high 22 points. Duliakas scored six of his 21 points in the fourth.
“We went with our strength . . . Chad and I,” said Duliakas. “We got the ball inside and that made a big difference.”
Aside from the size advantage, the inside game was needed as other positions weren’t performing for the Nighthawks.
“We were struggling at the 2 and 3 spots,” Peabody said. “We put Chad Carter, who is normally a 4 or 5, at the 3 and (forward Matt) Walter and Brandon together. It just seemed to open things up because Chad can take people off the dribble. He was a heck of a player tonight.”
Flowing Wells 91, Desert View 53: Senior A.J. Koch put on a shooting display, finishing with a game-high 42 points for Flowing Wells.
Teammate Drew Harris finished with 19 points, including five 3-pointers.