“This is our house!” the Mesa Ridge student section chanted inside the Widefield gym.

In the second game of a Wednesday night doubleheader, the Grizzlies boys basketball team was not fazed by the loud Widefield environment and won 56-45 over the Gladiators. Mesa Ridge had a 16-10 lead after the first quarter, led for the rest of the contest, and by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter. 

The win extends the Grizzlies’ (11-5, 3-1 league) win streak to four while Widefield (7-9, 1-3) is looking to break a three-game losing streak. 

“We are a defensive team,” Mesa Ridge coach Joel Babbitt said. “We were able to play defense against that really good guard (Amari Taylor) and (Christian Peaks). Our guys really stepped up and made it difficult on them. Those are two talented guards, so I’m proud of the way they played defense.”

Senior Brian Lamar led Mesa Ridge with 12 points, while Taylor, a senior, paced the Gladiators with 21 points, including three 3-pointers. 

Mesa Ridge led 32-23 at the half, and after trailing by 15, the Gladiators whittled down the lead to eight points with a minute and 30 seconds left and ended the half with a 3-pointer from Taylor. However, the stout Grizzlies defense held off Widefield for a 45-34 lead after the third quarter. 

“Mesa Ridge is a great team,” first-year Widefield coach Troy Parr said. “They have a championship-caliber program, and they know how to win. When you have that pedigree you’re tough to beat, but our boys fought hard. We are learning how to win, but most importantly, we are learning how to be young men, and when you’re a young man, that comes with losses in life.”

The rematch will be on Mesa Ridge’s home court Feb. 18 in another doubleheader between the rivals. 

“This was just our next game,” Babbitt said. “We really appreciate Widefield, but we talk about the next game as our most important game. The atmosphere was great, it was an awesome night for this community, but we are proud we got a win over the team we were facing tonight.”