Tourney host Red Mountain defeats Scottsdale Christian with strong inside game
December 30, 2023 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
Red Mountain has yet to play a game with its full roster intact, but it's getting closer, and Saturday's contest will send the Mountain Lions into the new year with proper momentum.
Red Mountain capped off a week of hosting the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge with a 64-54 victory over Scottsdale Christian.
Red Mountain (8-8) had lost three close games during the week, but Saturday, the Lions pulled away in the second half thanks to their big men in the paint. Center Bjorn Molenaar and forward Jaxon Griffin combined for 26 points and 14 rebounds. Molenaar, a 6-7 senior, hustled and muscled his way to 11 of his 16 points in the second half.
Griffin, a 6-5 junior, added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Their presence on the glass made the difference in the second half as Red Mountain took control.
"We haven't had a a practice or game as a full team, so we're still figuring things out," Molenaar said after the game. "Today we saw some things we thought we could do inside and it worked out for us."
Gage Lindsey added 10 points for Red Mountain, which took a 32-25 lead to the halftime break.
Pietro Dimuzio knocks down the 3 from the baseline for @RMBoysBBall during the 1st half against Scottsdale Christian. Final day of the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge. Red Mtn leads 32-25 at halftime. pic.twitter.com/jOjIUVOl4V
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) December 30, 2023
Lindsey began the second half with a three point shot before Molenaar scored eight consecutive points for the Lions, and building its lead to 14 (48-34) with 6:30 left in the game.
Red Mountain center Bjorn Molenaar (#33) has made the difference in the second half by controlling the glass and scoring 11 points. Red Mountain beats Scottsdale Christian 64-54. pic.twitter.com/dq1z6FEvC1
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) December 30, 2023
Scottsdale Christian, which competes in 2A, wasn't about to go away. Kody Olafson and Nolan Dickerson each scored 11 points and kept things interesting with their three point accuracy down the stretch, but the Eagles defense couldn't get enough defensive stops to come all the way back. Scottsdale Christian's Jackson Harrison led all scorers with 17 points.
The Eagles got within six points (60-54) in the game's final minute after a Dickerson three pointer but Red Mountain's defense put the clamps on.
Other scores from Saturday's Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge:
Salpointe Catholic 66 Mission Prep (CA) 35
Houston Christian 102 Desert Mountain 88
Timpview (UT) 68 John Paul II (TX) 35
Clovis West 62 Brophy Prep 53
Gonzaga Prep (WA) 68 Bakersfield Christian (CA) 55
Capital Christian (CA) 70 Mountain View 48
Notre Dame Prep 64 Pinnacle 52
Boulder Creek 73 Valley Christian 66
Sherwood (OR) 67 ALA Gilbert North 64
Cesar Chavez 63 Cedar Valley (UT) 60
Beverly Hills (CA) 56 Campo Verde 52
Chaparral 61 Rancho Solano Prep 60
Peoria 44 Westwood 40
