State: No. 3 Bradshaw Mountain advances after 54-38 win over Panthers

February 16, 2023 by Brian M. Bergner Jr., AZPreps365


Bradshaw Mountain players are all smiles during a timeout during a game Feb. 8, 2023. The Bears earned a 54-38 win over Coconino in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Thursday, Feb. 16, in Prescott Valley. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365, file)

PRESCOTT VALLEY — Mason Hunt scored 16 points on four 3-pointers, Dante Landis and Mauricio Holguin chipped in with 11 and No. 3-seeded Bradshaw Mountain advanced to round two of the 4A state playoffs with a 54-38 win over Coconino on Thursday night.

“We played very well,” first year Bradshaw Mountain head coach Cain Atkinson said via text. “I thought we executed the game plan extremely well and limited our turnovers.”

It is the fourth win in the past five games for the Bears (23-4, 11-1 4A Grand Canyon), which held No. 14 Coconino to just five points in the second quarter.

Hunt scored 11 of his 16 in the third quarter on three 3-pointers and a 2 for 2 mark from the charity stripe. Bradshaw Mountain was 10 of 18 from the free-throw line Thursday night.

Panthers guard Ivory Washington had 16 points on two 3-pointers and a perfect 6 for 6 mark from the free-throw line while Memphis James added 10.

The Bears now host No. 6-seeded Cactus on Feb. 22 in round two action. Cactus beat No. 11 Pueblo 63-52 on Thursday night.

“We are very excited to have another home game,” Atkinson said.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.