Red Mountain played its first game of the season with its entire roster intact Tuesday night. 
If the results were a true indicator, the Mountain Lions could be a dangerous team come postseason.
Thanks to a gritty defensive effort and return of its point guard, host Red Mountain knocked off Mesa, 54-43 in a battle of 6A East Valley unbeatens.

Sophomore Travon Darby led the Mountain Lions with 21 points and senior Drew Hall added 16 points and five assists in his first action in five games. Gage Lindsey added seven for the Lions. 
The win gives Red Mountain (15-5, 5-0) a one game region lead over Mesa (15-5, 4-1). It also puts the Lions on a trajectory to break the school's season win record of 23 games. 
"This was a big win and I've know all season how dangerous we can be when fully healthy," Red Mountain coach Chris Lemon said. 
"I've been telling our kids all along, 'let teams play the full Rec Mountain' and see what we can do'. I think we can be really good."

Before injuring his Achilles heel and missing a few weeks, Hall led Red Mountain in scoring with 14 per game. Darby stepped up in his absence, and Tuesday night the Mountain Lions played highly efficient with both guards on the court. 
But it was Red Mountain's defense that made the difference. 
Mesa star freshman Kyi Kyi Miles scored 14 points compared to his season average of 20, and was held to five second half points. John Petersen was held to six points, half of his season average. 
"We came together as a team tonight and played hard," Darby said. 
"We wanted take out their star players and we just trusted eachother."
The game was tied at 7 after one quarter, but Darby helped Red Mountain start taking control in the second quarter by knocking down three consecutive jump shots, as the Mountain Lions built a nine point lead by halftime (25-16).

Mesa's Jarren Galarza hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter to get the jackrabbits back in the game, but they would never get closer than four points. 
 

The win restored Red Mountain's confidence after an upset loss to Gilbert last Friday. 
"Credit to (Red Mountain)," Mesa coach Scott Stansberry said. "Coach Lemon and his team brought it tonight. We have to rebound Friday night. We will learn from this one and see them in a few weeks."

Josh Stewart added 11 points for Mesa, who will host arch rival Mountain View Friday night. The Toros are also 4-1 in region play. Red Mountain will travel to Westwood.