“Our team’s fast start destroyed AZ Prep because they didn’t know what was coming for them.”

From the opening tip, Verrado set the tone with aggressive play and sharpshooting. Senior standouts Brayden Barrett (#34) and Tristen Rhodes (#23) were unstoppable, lighting up the scoreboard early. By the end of the first quarter, the Vipers had already built a comfortable lead, prompting a crucial timeout from the Arizona College Prep sideline in an attempt to regroup.

“We came into the game with a game plan and we had the right mindset. We never thought they were better than us and we just wanted the win more than them which we showed by how we dominated the game and came out victorious at the end,” said Bethel Mba, a Junior Forward on the team.

Rhodes knew the Vipers were prepared. “We lost to them in our first game of the season and they weren’t ready for all the time we had spent preparing for them. We knew we had to win the game so we were willing to do anything and everything to come out on top.”

Verrado’s defense locked in, shutting down ACP’s top scorer, particularly stifling #4 on multiple shot attempts. Meanwhile, the Vipers’ offense remained relentless. Before halftime, Barrett and Rhodes had each racked up impressive numbers, with Barrett tallying 10 points and Rhodes leading the charge with 13. By the break, the Vipers had surged to a commanding 43-15 lead.

“Once we got up in the 1st quarter, we didn’t look back and we had put all of our effort into winning that game,” Rhodes added. After halftime, the energy remained high both on and off the court, as the Verrado cheerleaders kept the crowd engaged. However, the game took a more physical turn in the third quarter. Barrett showcased his resilience, driving through two defenders for a tough layup—despite taking a hard foul to the face, he powered through and still finished the play.

Verrado continued to control the tempo, with Rhodes and Barrett adding to their already impressive stat lines. Arizona College Prep attempted to mount some offense, but the Vipers’ defense was relentless, forcing turnovers and difficult shots.

The game’s final moments provided an exclamation point to an already dominant performance. Rhodes hustled to save a ball from going out of bounds, passing it to Treydon Ross (#21), who quickly dished it back. Rhodes then sprinted the length of the court, finishing with a smooth layup to close out the game in style.

When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 71-35 in favor of the Vipers—a statement victory to open the season. With an explosive offense, a lockdown defense, and standout performances from Barrett and Rhodes, Verrado proved they are a force to be reckoned with this season.

If this game was any indication, the Vipers have their sights set on a big year. Arizona College Prep learned the hard way—playing at Verrado is no easy task.