It did not take long for the Visitmesa.com Arizona Basketball Challenge to get going with some tight contests.

St. Marys withstood poor free-throw shooting late in regulation and a technical foul that opened the door for Sunnyslope to tie the game in the final seconds, but  the Knights prevailed, 85-78, in double overtime in the first game of Monday\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s first round at Mountain View High School.

Chris Mason scored 26 points, 21 in the second half and overtimes before fouling out, to lead all scorers. Derrick Bowers, who along with Mason supplied inside dominance for the Knights (7-2) added 16 points. Both Mason and Bowers had 12 rebounds apiece.

Sunnyslope (9-3  survived with 3-point shooting from Chris Rodriguez (19 point) and Steven Pisciotta (18 points). Four Sunnyslope players fouled out, three in regulation. Rodriguez made three free throws with 12 seconds left in regulation to push the game to extra sessions.

Demarquise Johnson scored 27 points to lead five Westwind Prep players in double figures as the Warriors rallied in the second half to defeat Mountain Pointe, 88-80.

Westwind (12-0) made 10 of 18 shots from 3-point range. Mountain Pointe's Jerome Garrison scored a game-high 34 points and Tyler Wimbish added 21 for the Pride (6-3). Mountain Pointe was without senior forward  Izzy Marshall, who is likely to miss the tournament with pneumonia.

Chaparral built a 13-point halftime lead and then hung on down the stretch to defeat Chandler, 68-61. Zeke Chapman led Chaparral (9-2) with 24 points and teammate Luke Roh added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Chandler (5-6) got 24 points from Andre Norris and 13 apiece from Kisima Jagne and Troy Hurley.

Horizon got scoring from all over the floor from Cal-Irvine-bound guard Collin Woods and outlasted Serra, Calif., 77-71. Woods finished with 33 points. Woods connected on 4-of-7 shots from 3-point range and made 11-of-14 free throws. Dakari Tucker led Serra with 24 points. Horizon improved to 8-2 and Serra is now 2-6.

Moeller, Ohio gradually pulled away late in the first half and kept up that pace in the second half to defeat Dobson, 62-41. Ben Galemmo led Moeller (6-0) with 17 points and Charlie Byers added 11. Dobson (7-4) was led by Kyle Tomlinson's 14 points.

Amphitheater's Lester Medford sank two free throws with 0.5 seconds left to give the Panthers (10-1) an 87-85 win over Lutheran, Calif. Medford tallied 21 points and teammate Tim Derksen had a game-high 24. Payton Banks and James Douglas led Lutheran (8-3), which led 50-39 at halftime with 21 points apiece.

Mountain View (7-0) shot 79 percent from the field in the first half to build a 24-point lead and slowed in the second half, but still managed a 72-62 victory over Buena (9-2).  Four Mountain View players scored in double figures led by Camyn Boone's 22. Jaren Sweeney (13), Kyle Bingham (12) and Mark Mazzucco (10) were the others in double digits. Devonte Malcolm led Buena with 23 points.

Brighton, Utah had it working inside and outside with four players scoring in double figures as the Bengals (5-1) topped Red Mountain (6-5), 81-73. Austin Hudson had 19 points and 10 rebounds and did the damage inside while Corbin Miller (18) and Brandon Miller (14) scored often from the perimeter. The pair combined to make 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Derek Newell chipped in with 10 points. Red Mountain had three players score in double figures, led by Joey Halvorsen with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

 VISITMESA.COM SCHEDULE CHANGE

The final two games Thursday night  have been pushed back to 7 and 8:30 p.m. to accomodate live coverage by Cox 7. The matchups for the final two games on Thursday will be determined by midday Wednesday. All of Thursday's games will be determined on Wednesday.

MOELLER TRAVELS WELL

A couple years back when Moeller High competed in the McClintock Holiday Shootout they not only brought their team, but cheerleaders and a hearty section of fans (well over 100) for the trip.

It wasn't any different this time when Moeller strolled into Mesa for Visitmesa.com. Team, cheerleaders and a healthy amount of fan base. There also was an alumni breakfast in the Valley for those transplants that once attended Moeller. Not bad following for a prep basketball team, but that happens when there is tradition and cold, bitter weather back East.