Gilbert overpowers Basha in 4th for MLK boys hoops victory

Gilbert boys basketball coach Jay Caserio wasn't overly concerned with his team's 30-21 halftime deficit to taller and talented Basha. He didn't prescribe any major changes during his halftime speech.

"We didn't change anything," Caserio said. "We concentrated on cleaning up a few things. They had seven offensive rebounds in the first half  and we had six turnovers. That was 13 fewer chances to score. If we just cleaned up the offensive rebounds and got more of the 50-50 balls, we'd get more of the shots we got in the first half."

That happened. Add some great shooting in the second half by the Tigers, particularly Freddie Lash, and Gilbert stormed past Basha in the final period to post a 68-52 win in MLK Basketball Classic action at ASU's Wells fargo Arena.

Lash, a slender 6-foot-3 guard, was most impressive in the second half when he scored 18 points. Lash connected on his first six shots from the floor and made 7-of-9 for the half to finish with a game-high 24 points. Most of his baskets came on picturesque jumpers. They began whittling Basha's halftime lead in the third period, which shrank to two heading to the final period. Lash and four other teammates combined to outscore Basha, 23-5, in the final period, including the first 17 points of the quarter at the 3:06 mark left that put the game out of reach.

Gilbert (13-5, 9-2 power-point games) made 18-of-29 field goals in the second half  (62 percent) Lash made two threes in the second half and Cody Martin and Conner Helvig one each in the fourth quarter. Helvig finished with 10 points. Gilbert 's bench contributed mightily as well with Deandre Myles, DJ Hurd and Austin Harper teaming up for 16 points. Basha got no points off its bench.

Basha (16-3, 9-2 ppg) saw its top three scorers on the season finish in double figures -- 6-4 Jaron Hopkins (14 points), 6-8 Torren Jones (13) and 6-9 Maurice Kirby (11). Kirby got no shots in the second half and Jones just five. When they did get the ball they were 8-of-12 from the field.

CORONA DEL SOL 63, HAMILTON 47

Corona pretty much had things its way all game and topped the Huskies in the final game of six of the MLK Classic at ASU's Wells Fargo Arena.

ASU signee Calaen Robinson led Corona del Sol (17-1, 10-0 ppg) with 23 points, Casey Benson had 14 points and Andrus Peat chipped in with 13 as Corona ran its power-point record to 10-0. Hamilton center Eric Jacobsen, another ASU signee, led the Huskies (12-6, 8-3 ppg) with 18 points.