Perry prevails in Visit Mesa BB Challenge

December 23, 2021 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Perry's Koa Peat (10) blocks a Broken Arrow OK shot in the final minute of regulation in the Pumas' 64-63 victory on Thursday. (Azpreps365 photo)

A matchup fans who watched the first three days of action at the 14th Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge licked their chops to see was on the menu on Thursday afternoon for the tourney's final day at Mesa Mountain View High School.

Tournament unbeatens Perry and Broken Arrow (OK) gave the crowd all they wanted and more as Perry prevailed on a buzzer-beater in overtime to edge Broken Arrow, 64-63.

Perry's Cody Williams went one-on-one the final nine seconds, weaved through the lane and successfully finished a short runner for the game-winner as overtime expired. The game produced no larger lead than a five for either team. The lead changed hands 20 times and there were 10 ties.

Perry finished 4-0 in the tournament and ran its overall record to 13-3. Freshman Koa Peat continued to turn heads with a game-high 25 points on 11 of 16 shooting from the field. Senior Dylan Anderson added 15 points and 17 rebounds and Williams finished with 13 points. Broken Arrow (5-2) received 21 points apiece from three-point marksman Connor Dow and forward Anthony Allen.

The teams were knotted at 58 heading to overtime. Broken Arrow scored on consecutive possessions late to tie. Williams got a good look for regulation's final shot, but missed.

Broken Arrow nabbed the first lead in overtime with Dow sinking his seventh three. Peat answered with two free throws and Allen bumped the Broken Arrow edge to 63-60 with 2:02 left on a back-door dunk. Peat capped his scoring with a layup with 55 seconds to go to make it 63-62. 

Perry's chance for the game-winner came with 17.9 seconds left after the Pumas forced a shot-clock violation. Williams, who had an off-night shooting (4 of 15), made that stat a moot point with the winning bucket.

Perry gets two weeks off from games after sweeping four this week. It won't resume play until Friday Jan. 7  when it hosts Mountain View. The Pumas won three of four games and were runner-up to begin the season in Gilbert's Welcome to the Jungle Invite. They are 6-0 in power-ranking games. Their other two losses were in the Hoophall West showcase to out-of-state opponents.

Perry's 7-foot wing Dylan Anderson (44) grabs a rebound in the first half vs. Broken Arrow. (Azpreps365 photo)