#2 Xavier Prep got the jump on #5 Hamilton in their 6A Premier Region matchup on Wednesday night. The Gators proved dedicated not to falter with their fast start.

Xavier built a 17-7 lead after the first quarter, extended it to 33-16 by halftime and cruised to a 79-68 triumph at Hamilton's T Dale Hancock Gymnasium.

Xavier improved to 14-3 overall and 3-0 in region. It was a bounce-back victory for the Gators from a loss Monday to 6A #1-ranked and unbeaten Desert Vista. The victory keeps the Gators tied for the region lead with Perry. Xavier and Perry play on Saturday at 5:30 at Brophy Prep.

Hamilton (16-4, 1-1) opened the season winning its first 11 games. Then Huskies have lost three of their last five games. Three of the four losses are are to 6A top-10 teams (#7 Mountain Ridge and #9 Mesa the other two top-10 defeats). The fourth loss was to a California school in an invitational.

Balance offensively keyed Xavier's victory. Junior guard Dominique Nesland led three Gators in double figures. Nesland scored a game-high 23 points. Senior Sienna Cherwinski was next with 14 points. Cherwinski made four baskets - all threes. Ruling the post was freshman Noelle Bofia with 13 points and an unofficial 11 blocked shots. Four Hamilton players did the bulk of its scoring - Reanna Farrington (21), Savanna Creal (17), Marlee Hebbring (11) and Breanna Sommers (10). 

Xavier shot a high percentage from the field - 11 of its 24 baskets were layups. The Gators connected on 10 threes (five players with at least one) helping offset 10 free-throw attempts for the game. Hamilton spent a bunch of time at the line. The Huskies made 25 of 33 free throws with Farrington scoring 13 of her 21 points and Creal 11 of her 17 from the line.