Montague catches fire as Basha wins
Basha Bears Sweep Perry Behind Explosive Sophomore Duo
East Valley hoops fans got treated to a barnburner Friday night as the Basha Bears held off a furious Perry Pumas rally to win 87-79 at home in Chandler.
The dynamic sophomore duo of Kingston Montague and Lleyton Leonard absolutely torched the nets, combining for the bulk of Basha's offense while completing the season sweep of their Gilbert rivals.
Montague was unconscious from beyond the arc, draining seven three-pointers en route to a monster performance. The Canadian-born guard, who plays club ball for the Oakland Soldiers, has been one of the most electrifying players in Arizona this season. Leonard, son of retired NFL player Louis Leonard, added his own fireworks with multiple threes and relentless attacks to the basket.
The Bears jumped out to a 43-29 halftime lead behind blistering outside shooting. Montague knocked down four first-half treys while Desean Middlebrook and Leonard contributed from deep.
But the Pumas clawed back. Perry guard Vik Babic caught fire in the second half, burying five three-pointers as Gilbert mounted a 31-point fourth quarter explosion. JJ Howard and LJ Diamond kept the pressure on, slicing the deficit and making things uncomfortable for the home crowd.
Basha held firm down the stretch. Mason Magee played like the savvy senior he is, controlling the pace and converting crucial free throws when the pressure mounted.
The win improves Basha to 14-7 overall and 4-1 in region play, keeping them firmly in the playoff conversation. Perry drops to 7-14 but showed they can compete with anyone when the shots fall.
These two squads met earlier this month in Gilbert where Basha claimed a 77-61 victory. The Bears clearly have Perry's number this season.
Sources: MaxPreps | AZPreps365 | Prep Hoops | Sports360AZ