Pinnacle brought its young, energetic boys basketball team to Mesa High Tuesday and did not look the part of young very much.

The Pioneers, leading most of the game except for brief moments in the second period and at halftime, outplayed the host Jackrabbits and posted a 67-57 win in a 5A non-region game.

Pinnacle (12-2), which has just two seniors on its roster, got a combined 35 points from sophomore Drew Bender (19) and freshman Dorian Pickens (16). That offset another 30-plus scoring effort from Mesa guard Jahii Carson, who netted 34. Carson, however, was the only consistent offensive outlet Mesa (7-4) had on the evening.

"We have a lot of work to do," Mesa coach Shane Burcar said. "Defensively we were terrible. And we have to have guys hit shots when they get them. Pinnacle played well. They outshustled us and got the loose balls and rebounds. Bottom line is we have to play better and get tougher."

Despite shooting 48 percent from the field in the first half to 25 percent for Mesa, Pinnacle trailed 29-28 at intermission. Pickens, who scored his points off the bench, teamed up with Cody McDavis and Devin Nelson for 12 of the Pioneers 18 points in the third period as they re-established the eight-to-10 point lead they had early in the second period.  Pinnacle took a 46-38 lead to the final period.

Bender, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, took over the offensive responsibility in the final period, scoring 10 of his 19 points as the lead grew to 14. Mesa cut it to eight  with just less than three minutes to play, but got no closer. Bender is the Pioneers leading scorer on the year averaging just more than 18 points a game.

"This team shares the ball really well," Pinnacle coach Charlie Wilde said. "We weren't sure what to expect when the season started with so many young guys. But all 15 have bought into what we do and they know their roles. They're becoming a very confident group."

Carson, who is averaging 31 points a game, connected on 12-of-28 shots from the field. The rest of the Jackrabbits, through the final three minutes of the game, were 4-for-34.

Mesa gets back to action Friday with a home game against Tucson High. Pinnacle plays another non-region game Friday on the road at South Mountain. Mesa opens region play on Jan. 11 against Brophy; Pinnacle begins its region slate against North Canyon.