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The No. 23-ranked Superior boys’ basketball team rebounded from a lopsided 79 – 45 loss against top-ranked San Carlos on Senior Night by defeating Mogollon in the regular-season finale, 87 – 81.
Four seniors – Jose Lira, Michael Salazar, Anthony Denogean, and Andrew Lopez – weren’t able to celebrate their final home game with a win, instead going out with a victory in the final regular-season road game of their high school careers.
Five Panthers scored in double figures against the Mustangs last Friday, including Jesse Lopez (13), Marcos Bueno (23), Jalon Murray (20), Austin Navarrette (11), and Nicolaus Cruz (11).
Navarrette and Murray finished with double-doubles after each pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. Cruz led the Panthers with six assists in the win to go along with two of his team’s 11 steals. Murray and Edgar Galindo tied with a team-high three steals each.
Next up for the Panthers is the Division V Section IV Tournament, which will take place at Thatcher High School, beginning Wednesday, Feb. 10
The No. 4-seeded Panthers will take on No. 5 Duncan in the opening round. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
Visit www.azpreps365.com for complete bracket information.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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