“We started out a little slow,” senior guard Nathan Henderson says as he reflects on the first part of the boys’ basketball season. With six wins and four losses (three losses being decided by five points or less), “a little slow” is the ideal way to phrase it as the season has been a growing experience thus far for the whole team.
The season kicked off for the team as they attended the Paradise Valley High School Invitational from Nov. 20 to Nov. 24. They flip-flopped from the winning and losing ends for four games, as they finished the tournament going 2-2 with the last game being a loss to Deer Valley.
Following the tournament, the team reeled off two straight wins over Mesquite and Skyline; and then came the long-awaited away game matchup against longtime rival Basha.
So far in the season, this was arguably the biggest game for the boys. Both student sections were supporting their respective teams.
The Puma student section was led by senior DJ Patchett, who led Perry students in multiple cheers and the famous “rollercoaster” skit.
The game was back and forth for the first half, and then late in the third quarter the Bears started to pull away as they went up by double digits entering the fourth and final quarter.
Then came a flash of déjà vu for the Basha side as the Pumas stormed back to force overtime. However, in overtime the Bears would not allow Perry to come back as Basha went on to win, 76-72.
“So far the season has gone great with a few minor bumps that I believe has made us stronger,” senior forward CJ Dunlap states.
The Pumas are looking to build on the first part of the season, as they have their sights set on another trip to the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Division 1 State playoffs.
As many of you will remember, after 10 games last year, the Pumas were 7-3 with a 2-2 record in the Paradise Valley High School Invitational, alongside a loss to Basha. Sound familiar?
So are we in for yet another fairytale ending to the season?
History says so, but let’s let the future tell.