Gilbert Perry fell to Harvard-Westlake (CA), 57-54 late Thursday night in first round action of the Nike Tournament of Champions and HoopHall Classic.

The tournament is held at several schools across the Valley through Saturday.

Highland is hosting perhaps the most competitive bracket, which besides Perry, includes AZ Compass, Sunnyslope, and several schools ranked in the nation's top 15. 

Despite a combined 31 points between seniors Koa Peat and D'Andre Harrison, 3-time defending state champion Perry struggled to get clean looks for much of the game. 

Harvard-Westlake's 6-9 swingman Nikolaus Khamenia was all-world for the Wolverines, scoring 18 points and pulling down 18 rebounds while chasing the All-American Peat around much of the game. 

Perry entered the contest 11-0 and ranked 4th nationally. Harvard-Westlake entered the tournament ranked No.15 improved to 16-1. 
 

"We struggled shooting the ball tonight, but a lot of that had to with the team we were playing," Perry coach Sam Duane Jr. said of his team's first loss. 

"(Westlake) plays great defense, they have great size and they're well coached."