Photos: Tucson goes toe-to-toe with Perry but falls 64-48, boys high school basketball
The Badgers held a lead over the top-ranked Cougars at half but dropped behind in the third quarter, eventually losing 64-48 in a 6A matchup, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry's Bruce Branch III (3) gets his fingers on a shot attempt by Tucson's Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) in their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025. The Badgers went into half with a lead, but couldn’t hold on, falling to the top-ranked Pumas 64-48
Perry’s Koa Peat (10) slams into Tucson’s Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) on a drive to the bucket in the third quarter of their game at Tucson High on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Tucson's Xavier Grajeda (1) gives up the intentional foul to stop Perry’s DeAndre Harrison (13) from a clean path to the basket in the first quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry’s Koa Peat (10) draws a crowd of Badgers including Tucson’s Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22), Adam Armadillo (5) and Xavier Grajeda (1) while dragging down an offensive rebound in their game at Tucson High on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Perry’s Koa Peat (10) slaps the hand of Tucson’s Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) stopping his shot in the second quarter of their game in Tucson, Jan. 7, 2025.
Tucson's Julio Marquez (21) draws the charge from Perry's Bruce Branch III (3) in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry’s Koa Peat (10) goes up in a crowded lane for a basket in the second quarter at Tucson High School, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry's Bruce Branch III (3) glides by Tucson's Nitai Buchler (24) in the second quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry's Noah Crouch (2) gets slapped by Tucson's Patrick Flores (11) driving into the lane in their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry’s Koa Peat (10) tracks down an offensive rebound in front of Tucson’s Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) in the second quarter of their game at Tucson High on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Tucson's Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) forces his way closer to the basket against Perry's Noah Crouch (2) in the second quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry's Noah Crouch (2) table-tops Tucson's Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) picking up the foul in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Tucson's Xavier Grajeda (1) elbows his way into the lane against Perry’s NoNo Brown (11) in their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Tucson’s Malaki Cunningham-Hiadzi (22) tries for the putback between Perry’s Koa Peat (10) and Dominic Avalos (4) in the first quarter of their game at Tucson High on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Tucson's Bryson Abalos (4) gets pawed from the off-side trying to get by Perry's Dominic Avalos (4) in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Tucson's Tavion Okougbo (2) looks to sling a pass around a Perry defender in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Perry’s head coach Sam Duane has questions after one of his Pumas gets called for a foul in the third quarter of their game at Tucson High School, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Tucson's head coach Eric Langford reacts to a Badger miscue against Perry in the second quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., January 7, 2025.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist