Chandler-Gilbert CC built a 15-point halftime cushion and withstood a furious second-half rally to escape South Mountain CC Gym with a 65–60 ACCAC win on Wednesday night (Jan. 14).
Fast start fuels Coyotes
Chandler-Gilbert (10-8, 2-5 ACCAC) controlled the opening half on both ends, holding South Mountain to 22 points while putting up 37 of its own. The Coyotes shot efficiently overall (21-for-46, 45.7%) and got to the free-throw line often, finishing 18-for-29 at the stripe—an edge that ultimately proved decisive in a five-point game.
Jayven Price led the way with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting, consistently converting in the lane and in transition. King Turner added 17 points, knocking down three triples (3-for-7) and contributing across the board with six rebounds, three steals, and a block. Trey McKinney chipped in eight points, while Mason Knollmiller provided a steady bench lift with seven points, three assists, and three steals.
Cougars surge late, but fall short
South Mountain (15-3, 5-2 ACCAC) flipped the script after halftime, outscoring Chandler-Gilbert 38–28 in the second half and turning the game into a one-possession battle down the stretch. The Cougars' comeback was sparked by reserve guard Travis Vasquez, who poured in 22 points in 32 minutes and buried six three-pointers (6-for-8) to ignite the home crowd.
Devone Pless added 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while I'yar Shadowvine scored 11 despite a tough shooting night (3-for-11). South Mountain's effort on the glass was a major factor in the rally—the Cougars won the rebounding battle 40–33 and grabbed 17 offensive boards—but they couldn't fully overcome cold overall shooting (20-for-59, 33.9%) and a 14-turnover night.
Key numbers that decided it
- Halftime margin:Chandler-Gilbert led 37–22, and that early separation held up.
- Free throws: Chandler-Gilbert 18-for-29 vs. South Mountain 9-for-14 (a +9 advantage at the line).
- Rebounding:South Mountain 40–33, including 17 offensive rebounds, kept the Cougars in it.
- Three-point shooting:Both teams were around 31% from deep, but South Mountain relied heavily on the three (35 attempts), with Vasquez accounting for more than half of their makes.
Chandler-Gilbert's balanced scoring and first-half defense were enough to survive South Mountain's second-half push, sealing a road conference win in Phoenix.
