NEEDLES, Calif. — The Tigers’ defense was strong, the rebounding was dominating and the offense was nearly unstoppable.

David Bell/News-Herald Photo. Telesis’ David Gilliam (22) pulls down one of his 11 rebounds in Telesis’ 66-27 win in Friday’s CAA 2A playoff opener against Academy of Building Industries at Needles High School. Defending is AOBI’s Jesse Alvarado (00).

So much for the adage that a team can’t beat another three times in one season.

The Telesis boys’ basketball team opened the first round of the Charter Athletic Association 2A Division playoffs with a convincing 66-27 win over Fort Mohave Academy of Building Industries at Needles High School Friday.

“The boys came out to play their game tonight. They came in with a playoff mentality,” said Telesis head coach Landon Merrill.

It was the third game in a row for the two Mohave County teams. They closed out the regular season with a home-and-home series swept by Telesis.

The Tigers (16-1) advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of Friday’s game between No. 6 Crestview and No. 11 Jess Schwartz. The quarterfinal game will be Wednesday at Sequoia Pathway School in Maricopa.

Friday’s game opened with a 12-0 Telesis run, thanks to the work of Fabian Damien and Javaree Thompson on the press, The duo created turnovers that turned into easy baskets by Clayton Eaton, Kris Larson and Jimmy Hill, who slashed through the lane.

Up 22-4 after the first quarter, the Tigers went to the set offense, which allowed Hill and David Gilliam off the bench to do their work on the glass. The pair combined for 16 rebounds, with Gilliam grabbing 11 including five on the offensive glass.

“I’d been in a slump and I’ve been trying to work my way out of it. I knew I had to come out big tonight because it was the playoffs. And I had to have Jimmy’s back because he’s been covering for me,” Gilliam said.

With a 39-11 lead to start the second half, the Tigers went to the bench. And the Jackhammers switched up their offensive attack. In the first half, AOBI would start to drive the lane then kick the ball out to the perimeter, where a low percentage shot was taken.

But in the third quarter, the Jackhammers’ Aaron Alexander, Zach Rockefeller and Rudy Ramirez held on to the ball and took it to the hole. The result was the only quarter in which AOBI scored double digits.

But the Tigers defense clamped down in the final quarter and the offense went into the stall with just under four minutes to play to hold on to the win.

“They’re quick and athletic and they took us out of our game,” said AOBI head coach Tyler Christensen.

Ramirez led the Jackhammers with eight points while Rockefeller and Jesse Alvarado each finished with six.

The loss closes out the season for AOBI at 4-7. They graduate three players — Alexander, Ramirez and Steven Sanchez.

Telesis’ Larson had a game-high 18 points along with 11 rebounds. Damien added 16 points and 15 assists.

“We told Damien before the game this would be a big assist game for him and light on scoring. And he did the job,” Merrill said.

Hill added 11 points and Thompson had 11 steals for the Tigers.

For more photos from the Telesis-AOBI game, click here: http://www.instantimagegallery.com/iig/c/769