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GULFPORT - Brandon added a stellar offensive performance to their usually stifling defense, beating Mission Prep (Calif.) 76-49 in the first round. of the Hooter's Holiday Shootout.
Brandon's defense was suffocating during the first half, allowing 15 points.
"We wanted to see if they could handle the pressure," Brandon coach Mark Hermann said.
Mission Prep did not make its first field goal until 4:15 left in the first. At that point, Brandon's Zaronn Cann was outscoring them 8-3. Had it not been for foul trouble, Cann might have continued to outscore it.
Cann had a free throw, 3-pointer and crowd-rousing alley-oop to open the game. After Mission Prep's Bass Yessoufou made a free throw, Cann made a one-handed runner.
The Royals continued to have trouble scoring. They started slowly in every quarter except the fourth, when the outcome already was decided. Their first points in the second quarter came with 6:40 left, and they needed almost two minutes to score in the third.
Brandon's balanced offense made it difficult to contain. After his fast start, Mission Prep devoted a lot of attention to Cann, allowing the Eagles to get open looks from the perimeter.
Senior guard Taylor Gangis led all scorers with 21 points. He made a game-high five 3-pointers, including two at the beginning of the second half.
"Taylor finally shot the ball well," Hermann said. "He is our coach on the floor."
The Eagles shot 50 percent as a team on 3-pointers.
PITT. CENTRAL CATHOLIC 78, EAST LAKE 39: The Eagles fell behind by 36 at halftime then outscored the Vikings 28-27 in the second half.
Junior CJ Quirri led East Lake with 11 points, and juniors David McKee and Ross Stewart had nine.
"We just tried to execute better and improve on the little things," East Lake coach Joe Bloznalis said.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic had three players in double figures.
Senior point guard DeMarcus Simmons could have been the fourth had he decided to shoot more often. Simmons repeatedly broke down the Eagles defense with dribble penetration.