Mesa Mountain View doesn’t have the big-time scorers of years past. But defense and rebounding works just as well.

SLIDESHOW: Mountain View vs. Desert Vista

The Toros put the clamps on Phoenix Desert Vista’s offense Friday afternoon at the Arizona Basketball Challenge, holding the Thunder to 12 first-half points in a 58-44 win at Mountain View.

Desert Vista held a 6-4 lead, but a 20-0 run by Mountain View put the game out of reach very early. The Thunder didn’t get any closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

“The kids played a very solid first half,” Toros coach Gary Ernst said.

Eric Hunt was the interior presence, grabbing 10 first-half rebounds (12 overall) and blocking three shots. He is 6-foot-6 with a wingspan 5 inches longer than his height.

“I try to make my man take a tough shot,” Hunt said. “After that, I box him out hard. You’ve just got to want (the rebound). If you want it, it’s yours.”

Mountain View’s offense was balanced. Asaad Woods led the way with 15 points and Hunt added 13. Nathan Murphy had 12 points, including three 3-pointers.

In the two years prior, players like Harper Kamp (now at California), Kendall Wallace (UNLV) and Brendon Lavender (Arizona) would light up the scoreboard, but this team spreads it out more.

“We’ve had a couple years where one player is outstanding,” Ernst said. “But I’d prefer the balance. It’s a lot tougher for other teams if you’ve got multiple scorers. So that’s what we try to do.”

Mountain View (9-1) has not lost to a team from Arizona this season — its lone blemish was against Las Cruces, N.M., on Dec. 13.

Desert Vista fell to 1-8, though the reigning 5A-I state champion had lost its previous seven games by 10 points or less.

Dan Tilleman had 10 points and five assists to lead Desert Vista.

LIONS PLAY TWO

Mesa Red Mountain played twice on the day.

In their first game, the Mountain Lions beat Laveen César Chavez 65-51, outscoring the Champions by 15 points in the second half.

In its second game, Red Mountain got 17 points from Chris Lewis and 16 from Jordan Holt for a 59-48 win over Sagemont, Fla.

OTHER GAMES

Phoenix Pinnacle got 20 points and 10 assists from Nuno Muandumba to beat Tucson 76-54.

John Bailey led Dobson with 20 points and nine rebounds, and Jerry Harville had 19 points and 10 assists in a 75-56 win over Phoenix North. North star Daniel Bejarano played after injuring his tailbone earlier in the week, but finished with just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Goodyear Estrella Foothills beat Hamilton 69-50 behind 26 points and eight assists from Arizona State commitment Corey Hawkins.

Lone Peak, Utah hit seven 3-pointers and shot 50 percent from downtown to beat Saguaro 75-49. Jack Connors led Saguaro with 14 points.