By Don Ketchum

Lawrence Pierce and Dewayne Russell have been playing basketball together since they were 9 years old. They could close their eyes, know where each other is on the court and deliver the ball.

They were in top form for Peoria High on Wednesday (Dec. 7) in the first round of the Majerle’s Basketball Challenge at Goodyear Estrella Foothills. The tournament also features games at Goodyear Desert Edge.

Pierce and Russell combined for 52 points in a 70-43 victory over Surprise Willow Canyon.

Russell scored 16 of his 30 points in the second half as Peoria (8-0) pulled away. Russell hit three 3-point shots on the way to a 22-point effort.

”They are good competitors. They feed off each other. They make us dynamic offensively,’’ said Peoria coach Michael Serwa.

A 3-pointer by Russell just before the halftime buzzer gave Peoria a 33-18 lead at the break.

Peoria tightened up its defense to fuel a 16-0 run to begin the third quarter, and Willow Canyon (0-3) could not recover.

“We talked about hitting the passing lanes hard,’’ Serwa said of his halftime speech, urging his team to steal the ball or knock it away.

Center Stephen Hadley, a 6-foot-11 senior, continued to be a force underneath the basket, grabbing numerous rebounds and blocking or altering several shots.

Guard Antony Thompson scored 13 points to lead Willow Canyon, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Peoria plays Thursday’s second round at Estrella Foothills, 6:30 p.m. against Tolleson or host Estrella Foothills.

The Panthers, who won the recent Arrowhead tournament at Glendale Ironwood with a victory over Phoenix Brophy Prep, would like to put the title trophy from this tournament in their trophy case, and have their eye on the grand prize, some Division II state championship hardware.