Mesquite's Nate Calmese commanded the first half's offense. Teammates Cohenj Gonzales, Nick Rogers and Kayson Bryant chimed in the second half. 

#6 Mesquite used an early 11-0 in the third period to break open a tight game and defeat #11 Prescott, 93-70, in the first round of the 4A boys basketball state tournament at Mesquite. Mesquite (24-3) advances to Friday's quarterfinals. The Wildcats will travel to play #3 Peoria at 7 p.m. Peoria eliminated ALA Queen Creek, 83-52. Prescott finished 17-11. 

Calmese, one of four seniors starting for coach Shawn Lynch, poured in 18 of his game-high 27 points in the first half. Mesquite needed them all as Prescott hung tough the first 16 minutes. Mesquite led 35-34 at intermission.

Bryant basically performed a lay-up drill in the third period allowing Mesquite to take firm control. Bryant connected for 12 points in the quarter (6 for 6 from the field with (five layups) and a 5-footer). The 11-0 run in the quarter came after Prescott had tied the score at 39. The Wildcats lead was 56-46 after three periods. Bryant tallied 14 of his 17 points in the second half, Rogers 17 of his 19 and Gonzalez 17 of his 24.

Mesquite rang up a 37-24 advantage in the fourth quarter, making sure its lead held and grew with solid free-throw shooting. The Wildcats connected on 16 of 21 charity tosses as Prescott's only chance to rally was fouling and hoping for many misfires. Gonzales was 10-of 10 from the line in the quarter.

Jason Parent led Prescott with 19 points. He was limited in the first half with intermittent foul trouble and scored just 5 points the first two periods. His best quarter ws the fourth (10 points), but the outcome was pretty much determined by then. Freshman point guard Uriah Tenette kept Prescott in the game with 15 of his team-high 20 points. Senior Jonas Carman also scored in double figures for the Badgers with 13, including a team-best three threes.

All the top-seede teams won 4A first-round games on Tuesday -- #1 Salpointe, #2 St. Mary's, #3 Peoria, #4 Deer Valley, #5 Notre Dame Prep, #6 Mesquite, #7 Paradisen Honors and #8 Cactus. 

Prescott's Jason Parent (dark uniform) battles Mesquite's Drew Owens (32) in the paint on Tuesday. (Azpreps36 photo)