Hamilton's and Gilbert's boys basketball teams played on the final night of last season. Meaning they were playing for state titles - Hamilton against Perry in the 6A final and Gilbert vying with Centennial for 5A supremacy. Both took home runner-up trophies.

With their starting lineups last season decimated by graduation losses, they are rebuilding this season. Both are works in progress.

Gilbert has the better of play thus far. The Tigers evened their season record at 5-5 thanks to their 40-31 victory Wednesday night over Hamilton at The Jungle. Hamilton saw its record dip to 1-9 with road loss.

Gilbert senior forward Luke Balazentis guided the victory with a strong first half. Balazentis scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the first half. Those helped stake Gilbert to a 21-12 lead at intermission. Nine of Balazentis first-half points were scored in the second quarter in which the Tigers outscored Hamilton, 15-4. The Tigers had five players score either five or four points to complement Balazentis scoring.

Hamilton played Gilbert even for the first 10 minutes of the game. The Huskies two baskets in the second quarter were scored six minutes apart - both by Nazir Davis (team-high 12 points). Their final lead was 10-8 at the 6:55 mark of the second. Gilbert followed with a 13-0 run over the next five minutes with six consecutive points from Balazentis initiating the run. Hamilton cut a 26-17 deficit to six twice in the third quarter, but got no closer.

Hamilton takes about a two-week break from play. The Huskies compete in the annual McClintock Holiday Shootout Dec. 26-29 at McClintock High. Gilbert has one more regular-season game before the holiday break. The Tigers visit Perry on Friday.

Gilbert gets 10 days off after facing Perry to take part in the Legacy Games -  a new event - set for Dec. 27-30 at Bell Bank Park in Mesa. Schools joining Gilbert in the event are Cienega, Arizona College Prep, Paradise Honors, Eastmark, Desert Ridge and Strathmore, Alberta CN.